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UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

Photo # NH 101739: Tug Gypsum Queen, which was USS Gypsum Queen in 1918-19


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Gypsum Queen (American Tug, 1890).
Served as USS Gypsum Queen (ID # 430) in 1918-19

Gypsum Queen, a 361 gross ton, 135-foot sea-going tug, was built by Dialogue & Co. in 1890 as Carbonero for W. D. Munson. Renamed Daniel Willard in 1904 and Gypsum Queen in 1916, she was acquired from her new owners, the J. B. King Transportation Co. of New York, on 17 September 1917 and was commissioned on 4 December 1917 at New York City.

Turned over to the 3d Naval District, Gypsum Queen was fitted out for overseas service at the New York Navy Yard and subsequently served in French ports as a towing vessel and a minesweeper. While returning from rendering assistance to a fleet of minesweepers including three, Courtney (SP-375), Otis W. Douglas (SP-313), and James (SP-429), that foundered and sank during a storm, Gypsum Queen struck a rock near Armen Light House off Brest on 28 April 1919. Her boiler exploded and she sank with a loss of 2 officers and 13 men.

This page features all available views of the tug Gypsum Queen, which served as USS Gypsum Queen in 1918-19.


Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 101739

S.S. Gypsum Queen (U.S. Tug, 1890)

Shown with the markings of her owners, J. B. King & Co. of New York, before her naval service in World War I. This tug, launched in 1890, was acquired by the Navy on 17 September 1917 and commissioned on 4 December 1917 as USS Gypsum Queen (SP-430). On 28 April 1919 she struck a rock near Brest, France, and sank.

The original print is in National Archives' Record Group 19-LCM.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

 


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Page made 8 August 2015