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Identification Numbered Photo Archive

USAT Colonel William B. Cowin
ex-USS Porpoise (YFB 2047)
ex-USS Moosehead (ID 2047)



Call sign:
Nan - Able - Quack - Mike



Porpoise call sign (1931):
Love - Baker - Vice - Preparatory

Mayflower call sign (1933):
King - Mike - Vice - Xray


Moosehead served both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army

Ferry Boat:

  • The first Moosehead was built in 1911 by Bath Iron Works, Bath, ME
  • Acquired by the Navy 28 March 1918
  • Renamed and reclassified Porpoise (YFB 2047) 8 November 1920
  • Struck from the Naval Register 30 December 1930
  • Registered in 1931 to William F. Mills of New York, NY as the passenger vessel Porpoise
  • Registered in 1933 to Frank V. Drake of New York and renamed Mayflower
  • Acquired by the U.S. Army in 1941 and renamed USAT Colonel William B. Cowin
  • Grounded and sunk 17 December 1941 on Hens and Chickens Reef, Buzzard’s Bay, MA.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 377 t.
    1931 - 719 t.
  • Length 185' 2"
  • Beam 35' 9"
  • Draft 10' 9"
    1931 - 13.9'
  • Speed 19 kts.
  • Complement 10
    1931 - 28
    1933 - 23
  • Propulsion: Two single-ended and one auxiliary boiler, two 1,200hp vertical triple expansion steam engines, two shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS Moosehead (ID 2047)
    Moosehead 115k Photographed circa 1917-18, with Maine Central Rail Road markings on her bow
    U.S. Navy photo NH 102042    		 Naval Historical Center
    Alacrity 75k Lockwood's Basin, Boston, Massachusetts. General view from the end of the pier, taken by Alton M. Blackinton, Boston, circa 1918. USS Moosehead (ID 2047) occupies most of the image. Beyond her stern is USS Alacrity (SP-206)
    U.S. Navy photo NH 42142
    Moosehead 133k Lockwood's Basin, Boston, Massachusetts. View of the basin from the top of the Headquarters Building, taken by Alton M. Blackinton, Boston, circa 1918. USS Moosehead (ID 2047) is in the center, with the East Boston ferry at far right. A submarine chaser (SC) and other patrol vessels are also present
    U.S. Navy photo NH 42143
    Moosehead 74k Lockwood's Basin, Boston, Massachusetts. View of the basin with a seaplane from Chatham flying overhead, circa 1918. Taken by Alton M. Blackinton, Boston. USS Moosehead (ID 2047) is at the right, with several patrol vessels nearby. USS Elsie III (SP-708) is in the left foreground, with USS SP-511 (ex-Alert) beyond her
    U.S. Navy photo NH 42146
    Alacrity 83k Lockwood's Basin, Boston, Massachusetts. View of the basin looking down the pier, taken by Alton M. Blackinton, Boston, circa 1918, showing USS Moosehead (ID 2047) in the center and section patrol boats. USS Alacrity (SP-206) is at the far left. The patrol boats in the left center foreground are (from left to right): USS Kiowa (SP-711); USS Skink
    (SP-605)    ; unidentified; USS Whistler (SP-785); and USS Lynx II (SP-730)
    U.S. Navy photo NH 42147
    Alacrity 69k Lockwood's Basin, Boston, Massachusetts. Section Patrol boat base at Lockwood's Basin, circa 1918, with USS Moosehead (ID 2047) alongside the pier in the right background. Among the patrol boats present are USS Skink (SP-605), in the left foreground, and USS Alacrity (SP-206) behind her. Note sailor sentry at the extreme right
    Photographed by Alton M. Blackinton, Boston
    U.S. Navy Photograph NH 42284
    Whistler 85k In Lockwood's Basin, Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1918, with USS Moosehead (ID 2047) on the left and four patrol boats at right. The latter are (from outboard): USS Kiowa
    (SP-711), USS Skink (SP-605), USS Whistler (SP-784)     and USS Lynx II (SP-730)
    Photographed by Alton M. Blackinton, Boston
    US Navy Photo NH 45268
    Elsie III 89k In Lockwood's Basin, Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1918, with an old torpedo boat (probably USS Rodgers, Torpedo Boat # 4) alongside USS Moosehead (ID 2047). USS Elsie III (SP-708) is alongside the pier in left center with Alacrity (SP 206) beyond
    Photographed by Alton M. Blackinton, Boston
    USN photo NH 45269
    Moosehead 125k In Lockwood's Basin, Boston, Massachusetts, in 1918. Also present are a large number of section patrol boats
    Photographed by Alton M. Blackinton, Boston
    U.S. Navy Photo NH 45728
    USS Porpoise (YFB 2047)
    Porpoise 31k
    Namesake:

    Porpoise - Any of several small gregarious toothed whales (genus Phocaena)

    		 Tommy Trampp
    Moosehead 73k Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia. Panoramic view of the Navy Yard waterfront, looking north from across the Anacostia River, circa 1927. Ships present are (from left to right): probably USS Porpoise (YFB-2047); USS Allen (DD-66), Naval Reserve training ship; an "Eagle Boat" (PE); USS Mayflower (PY-1), Presidential Yacht; and probably USS
    Sylph (PY-12)
    U.S. Navy photo NH 91949
    Commanding Officers
    01ENS Frederick C. Webber, USN1918
    02LTJG Alfred B. Doucet, USN1918 - 1919
    Courtesy Joe Radigan
    View the Moosehead (ID 2047)
    DANFS History entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command website
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