HMCo #306p SP-1841 [Herreshoff #306]

"[1917-03-05] Mon 5: Heavy NE gale with snow & sleet. 9in. or 10in. on ground. Very heavy. Clear NW [wind in] morning & cold. Set up keel for #306 [SP1841].
[1917-03-12] Mon 12: Began plating #306. ...
[1917-05-21] Mon 21: Launched st[eame]r No. 306 [SP-1841] in PM.
[1917-10-02] Tue 2: Out trying #306 [SP-1841]. Made run to Torpedo Station and left Mr. Farmer[?] and Mr. Swazey." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1917. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"Jan[uary] 1st 1917.
Deduct for plating [blank]. Plating to be joggled.
Frame spaces 18".
For stern see page 75.
For stem see page 76.
Sheer heights as revised Jan. 6th [1917] are to top of 2 1/8" bulb gunwhale angle, i.e.[?] for top of deck beams deduct 2 1/4". Fair out lines of cross sections to obtain new half-breadth measurements.
For changes on #308 see Page 78.
For changes on No. [blank] see pages 78 [for #308p] & c. and 97 [#323p] & c.
[On p. 47:] Oil tight bulkhead at aft end of engine space. From [frame] # 46 to # 50 will be oil fuel space.]
[On p. 51:] Oil tight bulkhead at aft end of fuel space. (Fuel space [frame] # 46 to # 50.]
[On p. 97:] No 323 [#323p]. To be same as #308 and #321, excepting the sheer line to be continuous and to the heights to top of gunwhale bulb angle to be to figures at top of pages, marked thus [sketch].
The machinery bulkheads will be in same position as in #306, #308 & c. but the position of end watertight bulkheads and also web frames will be changed, as will all internal accommodations and deck arrangements.
The line of plating seams are to be as in following pages.
Scantling are to be made a little heavier.
[On p. 104:] Offsets for Flush D[ec]k # 323." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. [Handwritten (in ink and pencil) notes in Offset Booklet HH.4.049.] January 1, 1917. Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"Dec[ember] 6, 1917
Trial of #306 with new propellers (44in dia[meter] x 75in pitch, 3 blade) and with superheater removed.
Rose Island course, 1 nautical mile, calm, tide latter part of ebb [followed by tabulated trial run data with best speed being 22.50kn]
The vibration of the engine was almost entirely eliminated, chiefly due to the reduction of the revolutions from about 560 to 460, but also due to the fitting of the intercostal plate between the engine bearer and the shell plating.
The increase in propeller efficiency more than made up for the removal of the superheaters; it was necessary to open the bypassed to the I.P. steam chests inside to keep the safety valves from blowing." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten note in Experiments Booklet '1911 Trial Trips and Experiments' under date of December 6, 1917. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum.)

"They built two steel twin screw patrol boats of about one hundred and ten feet length, and two smaller wood steamers for the same service, besides several gasoline patrol boats and torpedo retrieving craft, but as these craft were principally designed by Captain Nat's oldest son, A. Sidney DeW. Herreshoff, they are now only spoken of briefly." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Wizard of Bristol. The Life and Achievements of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, together with An Account of Some of the Yachts he Designed. New York, 1953, p. 305.)

"The boat shops of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company will be a busy place from now until next spring, as operations are to begin soon on several fast yachts and other craft.
A contract was recently closed for a very fast steam yacht for C H Dupont, the millionaire powder manufacturer of Delaware. The boat is to be 110 feet long, and it is said that the speedy craft will be built along lines similar to the Conejo, owned by R A Rainey of New York. The boat will be equipped with powerful driving engines, and will be one of the most elaborately constructed boats ever turned out by the company." (Source: Anon. "Busy At Herreshoffs. Fast Yacht to be Built For C. H. Dupont, Powder Manufacturer." Bristol Phoenix, December 26, 1916, p. 1.)

"The construction of the torpedo boat destroyer type of steam yacht for William du Pont has been started by Herreshoffs. A great difficulty has been met in procuring bulbed angle steel for framing, a portion has been secured from across the water and some from Pennsylvania, but not in sufficient quantities for the work as planned. In the construction of the yacht the plain angle frames in the mid section are to be double." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Globe, January 28, 1917, p. 53.)

"Nathanael G. Herreshoff, wizard of the yacht designers of this country when it comes to speed, is now devoting his attention to the construction at the plant of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Inc., at Bristol, R. I., of three of the most powerful patrol boats that have ever been built in this country.
One of the three is for Richard S. Russel of the Eastern Yacht Club, who is in charge in Massachusetts of the enrolment of men for the coast defence reserve. The two others are for Alfred I. du Pont of Wilmington, Del., and Winthrop Aldrich, son of the late United States Senator Nelson W. Aldrich of Rhode Island.
All three of these boats are to be of steel construction and will be powered with steam, using crude oil for fuel.
They are supposed to b able to make at least twenty-five knots. They will mount three pound guns fore and aft and an anti-aircraf t gun and will carry a crew of eight or ten men. The Russell and Aldrich boats will be about eighty feet in length and the du Pont boat will be 110 feet long.
Capt Herreshoff, with A. Loring Swasey of the same company, has been working out the plans for these boats along the latest lines laid down and approved by the Navy Department. All three boats have been offered to the Government for service as soon as they are completed.
The boats embody the lines of a craft that can go to sea and remain there in any kind of weather and at the same time be able to take care of herself in an attack." (Source: Anon. "Wizard Building Big Patrol Boats. Nat Herreshoff is Devoting His Attention to Craft for Coast Defence." New York Sun, March 18, 1917, p. 4.)

"Payne Whitney placed a rush order with the Herreshoff company yesterday for a twenty-three-knot submarine chaser to be built in accordance with naval specifications and turned over to the government upon completion. Similar action had already been taken by Robert E. Tod and Alfred I. du Pont. All three are members of the New York Yacht Club.
The boats are to be of steel, 110 feet long, steam driven and with oil-burning engines. The Herreshoff plant is backed by a syndicate of yachtsmen said to be headed by August Heckscher, and it is believed that record-breaking work will be done in fulfilling the three orders.
Boats of the size of the chasers ordered probably will be expected to maintain patrol in all weather, and certainly can keep the sea in any weather that a submarine might venture to the surface. ..." (Source: Anon. "Payne Whitney Orders U-Boat Chaser for U.S. Du Pont and Tod Also to Help Maintain Coast Patrol" New York Tribune, March 24, 1917, p. 2.)

"A new type of submarine chaser, the design of which has been approved by the Navy Department, will be seen in American waters within the next few weeks. Four of the boats have already been ordered by prominent New Yorkers. They are described as cruising submarine chasers, able to operate far off shore, and armed with a battery or two 3-inch guns. The boat is 110 feet long, and has a speed of 25 knots an hour. It uses oil fuel and steam propulsion.
The New Yorkers who have placed orders with the Herreshoff Company for boats with the stipulation that they will be built with all possible speed and delivered ready for action at the earliest possible moment, are Commodore Robert E. Tod of the New York Yacht Club [#308p SP-2232], Alfred I. du Pont [#306p SP-1841], Harold Vanderbilt [sic, i.e. J. P. Morgan #323p SP-2840], and Payne Whitney [#321p SP-2235].
Commodore Tod's boat will be delivered in July and the others in August. The owners have already informed the Government that the boats are being built for the service of the country, and as units of the patrol and submarine chasing fleet now being organized. Each boat will be manned by a crew of nineteen officers and men." (Source: Anon. "Yachtsmen Order Submarine Chasers. New Type of Boat, 110 Feet Long, Approved by the Navy Department." New York Times, April 1, 1917, p. 2.)

"Alfred I. Du Pont's 110-foot steam driven steel submarine destroyer was launched at Herreshoff's last Monday [May 21, 1917] afternoon and is now partly fitted for her speed and endurance trials. This boat is regarded as the most advanced in model of steam yacht-patrol cruiser and was designed by A. Loring Swasey. The yacht will be turned over to the Navy Department soon after the trials are finished and probably will be used for patrol work in the New York district. The boat is of steel construction, 110 feet in length, 15 feet beam and a draft of 4 feet 6 inches, which is believed will render the craft immure from torpedo attack by submarines. She will carry two light guns, one forward and the other aft. The cabin lay out is the latest in every detail, and the speed expected is above 20 miles an hour.
The Bristol boat yards are very dull this Spring, as few of the owners have given orders to have their sail and power craft fitted out. Sailing yachts, except for a couple of class racers, are to remain hauled out in storage until the war is over." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Globe, May 27, 1917, p. 59.)

"The Dupont [#306p SP-1841] and the Aldrich [#309p SP-1218] oil burning coast patrol boats built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, had a trial of their boilers and engines yesterday, while tied up in the slips north of the shops. They will have speed trials in a few days." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, September 25, 1917, p. 2.)

"... Satisfactory tests were held last week of the new oil burning steel patrol yacht, built by Herreshoff's for Alfred I. duPont. The craft was taken out for the first time a week ago, she proceeded down the east passage to Newport and returned in two hours. No attempt was made to run her at top speed, but 20 miles an hour was logged handily on the return trip when the machinery was limbered up. ..." (Source: Anon. "Notes from the Week's Log." Boston Globe, October 7, 1917, p. 60.)

"Two of the four 120foot steel scout patrol boats building at Herreshoffs are completed. These are for former Commodore Robt. E. Tod [#308p SP-2232] and Alfred I. Du Pont [#306p SP-1841]. Those for Payne Whitney [#321p SP-2235] and George Nichols [sic, i.e. #308p SP-2232 for J. P. Morgan] are nearly completed. These vessels are fitted with Herreshoff steam engines and are to make 26 miles an hour." (Source: Anon. "Spokes from the Rudder Wheel." Rudder, December 1917, p. 776.)

"... Herreshoff 306 [Name of vessel], Patrol [Type], Feb. 27, 1918 [Date of first commissioning or purchase], 88,931.47 [Cost (hull and machinery)], 1,739.00 [Repairs, changes, and alterations to June 30, 1919.] ... " (Source: Anon. "Table 21. Ships On The Navy List June 30, 1919." Navy Yearbook, Washington 1921, p. 776.)

"To be sold by Sealed Proposals Opening 10 A. M., APRIL 18, 1922 at the U. S. NAVY CENTRAL SALES OFFICE
...
U. S. S. HERRESHOFF
Patrol Boat (Steel). Length 112 ft., breadth 15 ft., draft 4 ft. Two vertical triple expansion engines. Indicated H. P. 12,000. Radius, 911 miles. Located ---Philadelphia, Pa.
...
10% of the amount bid must accompany the bid and all envelopes must be marked 'Bid for (Name of Vessel)' addressed to U. S. Navy Central Sales Office, Navy Yard, Washington, D. C.
Navy Catalog No. 70-B describes the vessels in the sale and will be sent to prospective customers on request.
U. S. NAVY CENTRAL SALES OFFICE
NAVY YARD, WASHINGTON, D. C. [Note: Though not identified by name, her location, Philadelphia, strongly suggests this to be a reference to #306p SP-1841 (Herreshoff #306)]" (Source: Anon. "Buy It From The Navy. Vessels --- Patrol Boats For Commercial Uses." New York Tribune, March 27, 1922, p. 18.)

"ATLANTIC BEACH, L. I., Aug. 17 [1932]. --- Joseph Sigall of Saratoga, N. Y., portrait painter, announced today at the Atlantic Beach Club, where he is spending the Summer, that he had bought George T. Brokaw's steam yacht Black Watch. Among the many prominent guests Mr. Brokaw had entertained aboard the boat was the Prince of Wales. The craft, of 92 gross tons, had cost about $100,000 originally, but the purchase price paid by Mr. Sigall was not known.
The artist said the yacht was in Jacobs's shipyards at City Island, but that he expected to have it at the club dock here in a fortnight. He intends to cruise to Florida in it this Fall and Winter. The Black Watch was built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company and launched at Bristol, R. I., in 1918. It has sleeping accommodations for eight passengers; an overall length of 115 feet, extreme width of 15 feet; depth of 8 feet 2 inches, and a draft of 6 feet. Its two triple screws are driven by two oil-burning Diesel motors whose combined capacities are 1,200 horsepower.
It is not to be confused with two others yachts of the same name, both also registered in the Port of New York; one owned by A. C. Wells and the other by E. J. Murphy. [Note: Joseph Sigall died Sep. 28, 1953 at age 61 in La Jolla, California.]" (Source: Anon. "Buys G. T. Brokaw Yacht. Joseph Sigall, Portrait Painter, Is New Owner of Black Watch." New York Times, August 18, 1932, p. 20.)

"From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships
Herreshoff #306. Named for the builder.
(SP - 1841: dp. 60; l. 112'5"; b. 15'2"; dr. 4'; s. 24 k.; a. 1 6-pdr.)
Herreshoff #306 (SP-194 [Vol. V, errata: SP-1841]), a steel-hulled patrol boat was built by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. in 1917 at Bristol, R.I. She was contracted for originally by Alfred I. DuPont of Wilmington, Del. at the urging of Assistant Secretary of the Navy F. D. Roosevelt, with the intention of later allowing her to be bought by the Navy. Herreshoff #306 was purchased by the Navy, taken over 14 February 1918 and commissioned 27 February 1918 at Newport, R.I.
The ship was first taken to New London, Conn., in company with two other Herreshoff-built vessels, to be fitted with listening gear. She subsequently sailed 5 May for the Canal Zone in company with SP-2232 and SP-2235, stopping at Charleston, Key West, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, en route. Herreshoff #306 arrived Cristobal 1 June 1918 and assumed duty as harbor patrol vessel. She continued to perform this duty until the end of World War I, after which she served the 15th Naval District as a patrol craft. The boat was then loaned to the War Department 2 October 1920 for use by the Army Air Service in the Canal Zone. Returned to the Navy in March 1921, she was taken to Philadelphia and placed on sale, finally being sold to W. A. D. Smith, of New York City, 1 December 1922." (Source: http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/sp-id/sp1841.htm, retrieved March 24, 2007.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections and displacement curve titled '#306 [SP-1841]. Unfinished model [Model 410]. Dec[ember] 27, 1916'. With calculations arriving at a total displacement of 2020cuft [= 129280lbs]. Marked 'See over'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_03900. Folder [no #]. 1916-12-27.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled paper scrap titled 'Drawings to be Made' showing a list of drawing and pattern numbers. Undated, but mentioning both #306p SP-1841 and #308p SP-2232 which were built in 1917." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.097. Paper Scrap. Box HAFH.6.3B, Folder Administrative - Notes. No date (1917 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] Penciled paper scrap 'Naval Experimental Station. New London. CT
306
308 [ are these references to #306p SP-1841 and #308p SP-2232 built in 1917?]
Ensign Van Clieve USN RF
Profile Inboard
Profile Outboard
Midship Section'. Undated, filed with other ca 1917 material." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.097. Paper Scrap. Box HAFH.6.3B, Folder Administrative - Notes. No date (1917 ???).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled detail sketch titled 'Proposed but not used for #306 [SP-1841]' showing what appears to be a table." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.124. Detail Sketch. Box HAFH.6.4B, Folder Detail Sketches. No date (1917 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections and displacement curve titled '1917. No. 306 [#306p SP-1841]. At. w.l. 3ft 5in above base at # 0 and 3ft 1 1/2in above base at # 72 spaces (transverse) spaces from # 0 and 10.9ft apart'. With calculations arriving at a displacement of 2055[cuft = 131520lbs] and a wetted surface of 1290sqft. With 'Note. June 18, 1917?. Displ[acement] today with most of woodwork aboard and a little aux[iliary] machinery 1002cuft = 32.1 tons net = 28.5 [tons] gross'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_06900. Folder [no #]. 1917.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled calculations titled 'No 306 [#306p SP-1841]. W[ei]g[h]ts & cg [center of gravity] with itemized listing of weight in tons, % of w.l. and moments arriving at a total weight of 702 tons at .557 of w.l. With dimensioned profile sketch of SP-1841 and note 'Displ[acement] to w.l. 61.5 tons. Cg of displ. .552 of w.l.'. Undated (SP-1841 was designed in December 1916 and January 1917)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_07020. Folder [no #]. No date (1916-12 or 1917-01 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled technical drawing titled 'Oil pump for 9-14 & 22 1/2 x 12 Engine. Full size. 1 3/8 dia. x 1 3/8 stroke'. Compare with HMCo Plan HH.5.08394 (102-033) dated May 9, 1917 for Navy Steam Patrol Boats #306p, #308p, #321p and #323p of which this is a preliminary drawing." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Technical Drawing. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0283. WRDT04, Folder 27, formerly MRDE09. No date (1917-05-09 or earlier).)
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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 Description:] everything here appears to be going nicely, Sidney has made a good layout of the proposed steam machinery of the LADY MARY, I expect to put #308 [SP-1841] over the latter part of the week, and haul out #306 [SP-1841] to have the skeg put on, #312 [STINGER] will be ready to run the latter part of next week, the Aldrich boat [#309p SP-1218] left Saturday" (Source: Swan, James. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_50830. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1917-11-05.)
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"[Item Description:] I hope to have #306 [SP-1841] ready to run again early next week, she is now hauled out, one cylinder is rebored and the other partly done, #312 [STINGER] is in the water and nearly ready to leave, #308 [SP-1841] should be ready in about ten days, #303p NAVETTE's superheater, French gov't has asked us to bid on large patrol boat, Sid and Winslow are working out a design, Richards is ready to sign up if we give him 19kn speed [this will be #329p CAROLA], store house is half finished and cottage is now on Brownell's place" (Source: Swan, James. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_50840. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1917-11-19.)
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"[Item Description:] machine shop is improving, #321 engines are now erected, Brechin has #323 nearly ready to frame, #321, had #312 [STINGER] running at the dock, the first 40ft launch [#324p] is practically completed, three others [#325p, #326p, #327p] are planked, and the 5th [#328p] and last will be in frame next week, the completed boat makes a very good appearance and will go overboard in a day or two, #306 [SP-1841] will hopefully be complete next week, design for the French [patrol] boat is as follows [150ft LOA, 18ft beam, other dimensions], will also bid on smaller 18kn boat, Swasey still seems confident to close up the Richards boat [this will be #329p CAROLA], have not yet received a cent on the 40 footers, bank account is getting pretty short, [financial summary by building no], risk of not completing the steel boats promptly, your young friend from Bermuda McCallan is here and working in Mr. Brechin's gang" (Source: Swan, James. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_50860. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1917-12-01.)
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"[Item Description:] am working for U.S. Shipping Board, cutting Lake ships apart to get them through locks and ready for ocean service, was married, your jap was finally released by immigration authorities bill for legal services to be sent to me, anxious to hear how things are going in Bristol, have the steel boats [#306p, #308p, #309p, #321p, #312p?] been accepted by the Navy?" (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_18440. Correspondence, Folder 51, formerly 54. 1917-12-06.)
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"[Item Description:] had successful trial of #306p [SP-1841], #309p [SP-1218 ] came in with damage from grounding and crew managed to inflict further damage, [C.F.] Adams was here last week, none of the other directors has been here except Swasey, the latter is still after the Richards [#329p CAROLA] and Stone [#374p ALERT] contracts, technical specifications for French patrol boats, are setting up the 'sample' 25ft destroyer launches [#330p], also have an order for a 12 1/2 footer [#824s], first 40ft launch [#324p C365] is in the water and has had a successful trial, first boiler was put into #321 [SP-2235] today, #323p [SP-2840] to be set up on Dec 17, machine shop problems, Bob Emmons apparently in Europe, #312p is now in Boston" (Source: Swan, James. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_50900. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1917-12-11.)
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"[Item Description:] Navy Dept. ordered ten aeroplane lighters [#191801es, #191802es, #191803es, #191804es, #191805es, #191806es, #191807es, #191808es, #191809es, #191810es], 58ft x 16ft, sort of a small floating dock arranged to carry an aeroplane, $15,000 each, built special construction shed [sketch], want six if possible by March 1, first class job for Brechin, will delay #323p [SP-2840] which is framed and being plated, #306p [SP-1841] and #308p [SP-2232] are finished and waiting for gov't action, Tod has paid for his boat [#308p SP-2232] in full, #321p [SP-2235] is almost done, one 40-fter [apparently #324p C365] has been delivered to Newport but ice is holding the other two [apparently #325p C366 and #326p C367] here and I had them picked up by shears and put on wharf, the last two [apparently #327p C368 and #328p C369] are nearly finished, they have proved expensive boats and we shall no more than make overhead on them, store house is done except cement work in vault, destroyer launch [#330p] is almost finished and is a fine little boat, hope we can build more like her, order for an aeroplane hull or pontoon [#341p NC-4], [Ernest] Alder has gone to Curtiss Works to observe and is now laying the boat down, work has commenced on Richards boat [#329p Carola], the RESOLUTE launch has been sent to Bob's [Emmons] ship the Mt. Vernon as tender" (Source: Swan, James. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_50930. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1918-01-08.)
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"[Item Description:] shed for seaplane barges is complete, machine shop consultant, 4 steel boats [apparently #306p SP-1841, #308p SP-2232, #309p SP-1218, #321p SP-2235] have been ordered taken away by gov't but can't move due to ice, shall launch #322p [SP-2373] on Monday and then set up Richards boat [#329p Carola], #323p SP-2840 is about all plated" (Source: Swan, James. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_50970. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1918-01-26.)
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"[Item Description:] #306p [SP-1841] and #308p [SP-2232] have been delivered and paid for, #306p had a very successful trial, #321p [SP-2235] about ready for trial, #322p [SP-2373] ready for trial, #323p SP-2840] plated and decked ..." (Source: Swan, James. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_50990. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1918-02-25.)
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"[Item Description:] [Seaplane] barges require 6 instead of 4 weeks building time, #306p [SP-1841] and #308p [SP-2232] away and paid, #322p [SP-2373] to be taken away in a day or so, #321p [SP-2235] having dock trials and hopefully to be turned over next week, #323p [SP-2840] has boilers in, hope to have her almost finished by contract time April 1st, other yards are raising wages and our men are uneasy, hope to have at least one [seaplane] barge in the water by time you are back, gov't wants six by that time, navy dept is probably going to order 42ft flying boat hulls [#346p, #347p, #348p, #349p, #350p, #351p, #352p, #353p, #354p, #355p H-16 / C-1 Seaplane Hulls]." (Source: Swan, James. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_51000. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1918-03-14.)
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"[Item Description:] Steam engine calculations apparently regarding #374p ALERT and #306p SP-1841." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.098. Calculations. Box HAFH.6.3B, Folder Administrative - Notes. No date (1919 - 1920 ???).)
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"[Item Description:] thank you for your letter and Lord Fisher's Books which came to hand yesterday, I read over the chapter on oil and oil engines and it appears he is somewhat visionary on this object, I hardly think the oil engine at the present time is so overwhelmingly superior to the steam engine but she [?] has only been developing for a decade or two while the other is probably quite fully refined after over a century of development, as to efficiency (fuel required per unit of power developed), propbaly the oil engine is now approaching its limit and compares roughly as follows, ..., the Diesel engine at the present time is expensive in first cost, very heavy and requires renewal of some parts frequently, all these objections will without doubt be overcome in course of time, but are not the reserves of oil begin drawn upon too rapidly and will not coal last much longer and become comparatively much cheaper than oil for fuel in the near future?, the yacht [#377p ARA] we are building for Mr Winton is to have Winton Diesel Engines of about 900 horsepower and the weight of the engines complete will be about 70 tons, the 110ft submarine chasers [#306p, #308p, #321p, and #323p] we built in 1917-18 were fitted with our steam engines & boilers what developed between 1100 & 1200 hp, the entire vessels complete including all machinery and in running condition weighed but 70 tons, I see no reason why a well designed Diesel engine should not be lighter than the steam option, it is not many years ago the gasoline engines were as heavy as steam plants, now they have been developed to about 1/4 the weigth" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Iselin, C. Oliver. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRRT_440. Unidentif. / Non-Cataloged, Folder MRRT. 1920-10-09.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (in ink) trials booklet titled '1911. Trial Trips and Experiments'. Relevant contents:
§26: #306p SP-1841 [HERRESHOFF #306] Trial Run 'to test vibrations' (1917-10-10)
§33: #306p SP-1841 [HERRESHOFF #306] Trial Run Data 'first trial with sat[urated] steam and new propeller' (1917-12-06)
§34: #306p SP-1841 [HERRESHOFF #306] Trial Run best speed 22.5kn (1917-12-06)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator) and Herreshoff, A. Sidney deW. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_04280. Folder [no #]. 1911-06 to 1926-05.)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖ ㉗ ㉘ ㉙ ㉚ ㉛ ㉜ ㉝ ㉞ ㉟ ㊱ ㊲ ㊳ ㊴ ㊵ ㊶ ㊷ ㊸ ㊹ ㊺ ㊻ ㊼ ㊽ ㊾ ㊿
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨

Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #306p SP-1841 [Herreshoff #306] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• SP1841 (MIT Museum-made index card)
• SP1841 (HMCo-made index card)
• Note: The vessel index cards comprise two sets of a total of some 3200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and information regarding drawings, later or former vessel names, and owners. They were compiled from HMCo's early days until 1920 and added to in later decades, apparently by Hart Nautical curator William A. Baker and his successors. While HMCo seems to have used only one set of index cards, all sorted by name and, where no name was available, by number, later users at MIT apparently divided them into two sets of cards, one sorted by vessel name, the other by vessel number and greatly expanded the number of cards. Original HMCo cards are usually lined and almost always punched with a hole at bottom center while later cards usually have no hole, are unlined, and often carry substantially less information. All cards are held by the Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections of the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Mass.

• Black Watch ex-Patrol Boat
• Note: The L. Francis Herreshoff index cards comprise a set of some 1200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and / or ownership information. Apparently compiled in the early 1930s, for later HMCo-built boats like the Fishers Island 23s or the Northeast Harbor 30s are not included. Added to in later decades, apparently by L. F. Herreshoff as well as his long-time secretary Muriel Vaughn and others. Also 46 cards of L. F. Herreshoff-designed vessels. The original set of index cards is held by the Herreshoff Marine Museum and permission to display is gratefully acknowledged.

Year: 1916
E/P/S: P
No.: 306
OA: 112' 5"
LW: 109' 0"

Source: Vermilya, Peter and Maynard Bray. "Transcription of the HMCo. Construction Record." Unpublished database, ca. 2000.

Note: The transcription of the HMCo Construction Record by Peter Vermilya and Maynard Bray was performed independently (and earlier) than that by Claas van der Linde. A comparison of the two transcriptions can be particularly useful in those many cases where the handwriting in the Construction Record is difficult to decipher.

"L. Francis Herreshoff notes on his index cards that #308p became Black Watch. This is clearly incorrect as shown by the 1928 List of U.S. Merchant Vessels which states that Black Watch was the former SP-1841, i.e. #306p." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. Aprill 11, 2014.)

"Steam engine rating 600hp from undated (1903 or later) diagram by N. G. Herreshoff titled 'Marine Engine. Weights and Prices' in the Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 24, 2019.)

"Marine Engine of Open Type. 9 & 14 & 22 1/2 x 12, 500[rpm], 600[hp]." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten List of HMCo-Made Steam Engines. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, MRDED1_00220. Undated, between 1903 and 1918.)

"Built in 157 days (contract to launch; equivalent to 783 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for Net Register Tons (62) from the 1925 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (Gross Register Tons were reported as 92) and converting to lbs by dividing through 2000 (short tons). Note that this figure can only be a rough estimate because register tons as reported in Yacht Registers correlate only loosely with actual displacement figures." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 17, 2015.)

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