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Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive

Uncas (SP 689)


Motor Boat: Built in 1917 as Uncas by the Greenport Basin and Construction Co., Greenport, Long Island, NY; Acquired by the Navy 28 June 1917 and commissioned the same day as Uncas (SP 689); Name dropped in April 1918 and renamed SP-689; Decommissioned, (date unknown); Returned to her owner, Charles L. Poor, New York, NY 31 December 1918. Fate unknown.

Specifications: Displacement 13 t.; Length 60'; Beam 10'; Draft 2'; Speed 20 kts.; Complement eight; Armament one .30 cal. machine gun.


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SP-689 120k Uncas, or a sister of the same design. Ready for launching, at the Greenport Basin & Construction Company, Greenport, Long Island, New York, circa
May-June 1917.
Collection of Robert S. Waters. Donated by Mrs. Alice W. Thomas, 1972.
US Navy Photo NH 98344
Naval Historical Center
SP-689 92k Uncas, or a sister patrol boat of the same design. In a yacht basin, probably at Greenport, Long Island, New York, circa Summer 1917, with a sailor washing clothing on deck amidships.
Collection of Robert S. Waters. Donated by Mrs. Alice W. Thomas, 1972.
US Navy Photo NH 98345
Naval Historical Center
SP-689 79k Underway just after she was completed, circa June 1917.
Photographed by Morris Rosenfeld, New York.
US Navy Photo NH 81565
Naval Historical Center
SP-689 69k Underway just after she was completed, circa June 1917.
Photographed by Morris Rosenfeld, New York.
The Sailor standing amidships, with hands on hips, is Robert S. Waters. Note the 13-star ensign flying at the stern.
Collection of Robert S. Waters. Donated by Mrs. Alice W. Thomas, 1972.
US Navy Photo NH 81566
Naval Historical Center
SP-689 53k Underway just after she was completed, circa June 1917.
Photographed by Morris Rosenfeld, New York.
Note the life ring, bearing the boat's name and the letters "S" and "P".
Collection of Robert S. Waters. Donated by Mrs. Alice W. Thomas, 1972.
US Navy Photo NH 81567
Naval Historical Center
SP-689 106k Sailors on deck amidships, probably at Greenport, Long Island, New York, circa summer 1917. The craft astern, bearing the number "SP 63", is probably Greenport Hull 278, which later became USS Russ (SP-1151). She is definitely not USS Rivalen (SP-63).
Collection of Robert S. Waters. Donated by Mrs. Alice W. Thomas, 1972.
US Navy Photo NH 98347
Naval Historical Center
SP-689 102k Fitting out at the Greenport Basin & Construction Company, Greenport, Long Island, New York, circa May-June 1917. A sister boat of the same design is at left.
Collection of Robert S. Waters. Donated by Mrs. Alice W. Thomas, 1972.
US Navy Photo NH 98348
Naval Historical Center
SP-689 84k In port, circa 1918.
US Navy Photo NH 81564
Naval Historical Center
SP-689 65k USS Riette (SP-107) in an icy harbor, circa 1917-1919. Partially visible, at left, are Uncas and USS Perfecto (SP-86).
US Navy Photo NH 102163
Naval Historical Center

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: The third Uncas a wooden-hulled motorboat built in 1917 by the Greenport Basin and Construction Co., of Greenport, Long Island, N.Y.-was acquired by the Navy from Charles L. Poor, of New York City, on 28 June 1917, for use during World War I as a section patrol boat. Assigned to the 3d Naval District and given the designation SP-689, the motorboat-operating without a name since a tug named Uncas was already on the Navy list-conducted local patrol operations out of Section Base No. 6 at Bath Beach, N.Y., for the duration of the war. She was returned to her owner on 31 December 1918.

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