USS Tarantula (SP-124)

USS Tarantula dressed overall
History
United States
Name	USS Tarantula
Namesake	tarantula
Owner	WK Vanderbilt
Port of registry	New York
Builder	George Lawley & Son, Neponset
Launched	1912
Completed	1913
Acquired	25 April 1917
Identification	US official number 210956 1913: code letters LCTH 1917: hull symbol SP-124
Fate	Sank after collision, 28 October 1918
General characteristics
Type	motor yacht
Tonnage	159 GRT, 90 NRT
Displacement	159.97 long tons (162.54 t)
Length	128 ft 9 in (39.24 m) overall 116.6 ft (35.5 m) registered
Beam	19.3 ft (5.9 m)
Draft	9 ft (2.7 m)
Depth	10.7 ft (3.3 m)
Speed	14 kn (26 km/h)
Armament	2 × 6-pounder guns 2 × .303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns

USS Tarantula (SP-124) was motor yacht that was converted into a United States Navy patrol boat. She was named after the tarantula.

Tarantula was built as a motor yacht in 1912 at Neponset, Boston, by George Lawley & Son. She was acquired by the US Navy on 25 April 1917 from WK Vanderbilt of New York City. Assigned to section patrol in the 3rd Naval District in World War I, Tarantula patrolled coastal waters of Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey until October 1918.

On 28 October 1918, Tarantula sank about 8 mi (13 km) southwest of the Fire Island lightship after colliding with the Royal Holland Lloyd steamship Frisia. Her name was subsequently struck from the Naval Vessel Register.

Tarantula′s owner subsequently was paid $75,000 to cover her value.

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

• Photo gallery of USS Tarantula at NavSource Naval History
• Tarantula (American Motor Yacht, 1912). Served as USS Tarantula (SP-124) in 1917-1918