Herreshoff #191802ep [Unbuilt 200ft Submarine Chaser]

"[1918-05-15] Wed 15: Arrived in W[ashington] about 8 a.m. & met Geo. Nichols. We go to Navy Dept about a 200' patrol boat while Ann sees the town. In p.m. visit to model tank and have a very satisfactory tour. Stayed at hotel." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1918. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"[Marked 'Rough Copy.'] Bristol, R.I.
Dear George,
Mr. Swan says he has been talking with you over the wire and that Adm[ira]l Taylor will not approve of our plans for a chaser [#191802ep Unbuilt 200ft Submarine Chaser], until we send him the lines and a model is tried.
The lines (which is simply a copy of the lines he has and have already been thoroughly tried out) will be send as soon as traced off on Monday. But with his attitude about this I can see that it is the beginning of trouble we will have all through, and the outerfing[?] of the jealous feeling the Navy Dep. has always had against anything originated here.
We have had one dose of it already this spring with that half dozen Destroyer launches [#330p, #331p, #332p, #333p, #334p] which we built in good faith, and now have five of them on our hands.
If the Navy Department really have faith in our work and will buy this 200ft chaser from your syndicate [next six words crossed out] who will contract for it and who must must have faith us[?] as they would in ordering a Cup Defender, and also the Navy Dept. will aid us in getting material, if necessary --- all right and good!
But if the Navy Dept. is to dictate every step it is no job for the Herreshoff Mfg. Co. to undertake.
We must have a free hand in both design and work, otherwise it would be folly to undertake it. ...
Yours sincerely, ..." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter (copy) to (Nichols), George. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. Correspondence, Folder 36 (new), 191 (old). June 1, 1918.)

"[Item Description:] Handwritten notebook. This booklet had two lives: In 1907-1908, 1908-1909 and 1909-1910 it was used for winter storage records, listing name of boat, owner, storage location, billed amount, and dates of storage. Listed were for the winter of 1907/1908: #235p MIST, ORIANA, #571s LARIKIN, EAGLET, #453s VAQUERO II, #580s TRIVIA, #663s ISTALENA, COSSACK, #666s AVENGER, #220p ATALA (for sale), #207p MIRAGE, #224p EUGENIA, #146p AUGUSTA, #247p SEA URCHIN, #105p COSETTE, ARLINE, #213p FLORENCE, #208p FLORETTE, #249p SISILINA, #591s IROLITA, #481s SPALPEEN, DUCHESS, #669s ELEANOR, #460s KILDEE, #647s CAPRICE, #408s PELICAN, #243p SWIFTSURE, #617s COCK ROBIN, #177p VANISH, #446s ALERION, and #591s IROLITA I, for the winter of 1908/1909: #666s AVENGER, #663s ISTALENA, #481s SPALPEEN, #580s TRIVIA, #617s COCK ROBIN, COSSACK, #177p VANISH, #242p #242, #243p SWIFTSURE, SKIP, #446s ALERION, CHEWINK II, DUCHESS, #571s LARIKIN, #460s KILDEE, #679s PEPITA, EAGLET, #408s PELICAN, #453s VAQUERO, #146p AUGUSTA, #224p EUGENIA, COYOTE, #264p SARAH WEBB, #207p MIRAGE, ARLINE, #213p FLORENCE, #208p FLORETTE, #249p SISILINA, #591s IROLITA I, CASSANDRA 27ft Launch, and #263p CASSANDRA 34ft Launch, and for the winter of 1909/1910: #252p WANECHE (no further boats were listed). At some later time, the same book was turned upside down and inscribed with a new title in ink '200Ft Submarine Destroyer [#191802ep Unbuilt 200ft Submarine Chaser]. Data + Calculation Book. Herreshoff Mfg Co.' on its now-new front cover (formerly its back cover), followed by weight data estimates and calculations for this submarine destroyer." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Notebook. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.087. Box HAFH.6.2B, Folder Submarine Destroyer 200-Footer. 1907-1908, 1908-1909, 1909-1910, 1918-06.)
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"N/A"

"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten letter on 'Eleven Thomas Street New York' stationery:]
Dear Mr. Nat,-
As you were away just now, I talked with Mr. Swan in regard to the new patrol boat [probably #191802ep Unbuilt 200ft Submarine Chaser].
Mr. Swasey spent yesterday in Washington, and talked the matter over there. They make the following points:
First - That they want all the speed possible in a reasonably sea-worthy boat, and consider 25 miles as the minimum.
Second - That they prefer the oil burner on account of the possibility of thereby using the smoke screen. Will you please think the thing out along these lines?
It seems to me that the present design is heavier aft than is desirable, and that the addition of a steel skag[sic] might improve the sea-going qualities. What we really want is to improve these sea-going qualities all possible without sacrificing speed.
Internal arrangement also, I think you can decidedly simplify. If the dining-room house forward could be done away with, and the gun platform put just forward of the bridge, I should think it would be a better place for it than nearer the bow; and also it would be desirable if the after-house could be done away with or so placed that we could get a second gun platform aft.
It is extremely hot here today, as I understand it is also in Bristol, and I hope you are getting in a sail. I wish I were with you.
Sincerely yours, ..." (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_07090. Folder [no #]. 1917-07-31.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten letter on 'Eleven Thomas Street New York' stationery:]
Dear Mr. Nat,-
I received yours of August 3d [1917] and think the idea you have in mind is just right.
There is considerable difference of opinion just at present in the Navy Department as to what qualities the ideal submarine chasers [probably #191802ep Unbuilt 200ft Submarine Chaser] should possess, and while I think it probable that the Navy would accept anything that we built for them, we naturally would like to build the most efficient vessel possible.
I should be glad to know how much the order for a new boat could be delayed without interfering with your work. If we could wait for the trial of the duPont boat [#306p SP-1841], we could probably get a much more definite opinion from the Department.
I hope to get down to see you for the trial or sooner, and we can talk over what I have been able to learn as to the use to which the boats are put on the other side.
Sincerely yours, ..." (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_07140. Folder [no #]. 1917-08-07.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten draft, marked 'rough copy':] Mr. Swan says he has been talking with you over the wire and that Adm[ira]l Taylor will not approve of our plans for a chaser [#191802ep Unbuilt 200ft Submarine Chaser], until we send him the lines and a model is tried.
The lines (which is simply a copy of the lines he has and have already been thoroughly tried out) will be send as soon as traced off on Monday. But with his attitude about this I can see that it is the beginning of trouble we will have all through, and the outerfing[?] of the jealous feeling the Navy Dep. has always had against anything originated here.
We have had one dose of it already this spring with that half dozen Destroyer launches [#330p, #331p, #332p, #333p, #334p] which we built in good faith, and now have five of them on our hands.
If the Navy Department really have faith in our work and will buy this 200ft chaser from your syndicate [next six words crossed out] who will contract for it and who must must have faith us[?] as they would in ordering a Cup Defender, and also the Navy Dept. will aid us in getting material, if necessary --- all right and good!
But if the Navy Dept. is to dictate every step it is no job for the Herreshoff Mfg. Co. to undertake.
We must have a free hand in both design and work, otherwise it would be folly to undertake it.
We have seen nothing of Com. James yet. [Note: See also penciled note by NGH in Offset Booklet HH.4.047 (p. 24) 'June 15, 1998. Lines of Proposed 40ft. Aeroplane Rescue Boat at scale of 1in= 1ft, sent to Mr. Nichols to take to Washington &[?] have a model made from. Frame spaces 12in with one more frame added. Breadths and heights increased 3/2. Estimated displacement 10000'.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter (copy) to (Nichols), George. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_12080. Correspondence, Folder 36, formerly 191. 1918-06-01.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled technical drawing titled 'Steering Gear. 200ft Chaser [#191802ep]. Scale 1/4 size. June 2 [19]18'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Technical Drawing. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE11_01260. Folder [no #]. 1918-06-02.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #191802ep [Unbuilt 200ft Submarine Chaser] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

"Dimensions and and engine particulars from notebook titled '200Ft Submarine Destroyer' in Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection at Hart Nautical Collections, HH.6.87." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. October 2, 2018.)

"This submarine chaser was intended to be an enlarged version of the Navy's 110ft SC-1-class submarine chaser which had been designed by A. Loring Swasey in 1917." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. November 4, 2021.)

Note: Research notes contain information about a vessel that is often random and unedited but has been deemed useful for future research.