USS G. H. McNeal (SP-312)

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G. H. McNeal as a commercial fishing vessel sometime between 1911 and 1917, prior to her U.S. Navy service.
History
United States
Name: USS G. H. McNeal
Namesake: Previous name retained
Builder: W. C. Abbott, Milford, Delaware
Completed: 1911
Acquired: 26 May 1917
Commissioned: 26 May 1917
Decommissioned: 17 May 1919
Fate: Sold 17 July 1919
Notes: Served as civilian fishing trawler G. H. McNeal or George H. McNeal 1911-1917
General characteristics
Type: minesweeper
Tonnage: 244 gross tons
Length: 140 ft (43 m)
Beam: 21 ft (6.4 m)
Draft: 5 ft (1.5 m)
Sail plan: Steam engine
Speed: 10 knotss
Complement: 5
Armament: 2 × 3-inch (76.2-millimeter) guns

USS G. H. McNeal (SP-312), also called George H. McNeal, was a United States Navy minesweeper in commission from 1917 to 1919.

G. H. McNeal was built as a wooden-hulled civilian steam tug in 1911 by W. C. Abbott at Milford, Delaware, and was employed as a "menhaden fisherman"-type commercial fishing vessel. The U.S. Navy purchased her from the McNeal-Edwards Company of Reedville, Virginia, on 26 May 1917 for World War I use and commissioned her the same day as USS G. H. McNeal (SP-312) with Boatswain Alvin Downey, USNRF, in command.

G. H. McNeal was fitted with minesweeping apparatus and enrolled in the Naval Coast Defense Reserve of the 5th Naval District. Based at Norfolk, Virginia, she served on patrol in the Virginia Capes area as a unit of Mine Sweeping Squadron 3 throughout her Navy career.

G. H. McNeal was decommissioned on 17 May 1919 and was sold to the McNeal Dodson Company of Norfolk on 17 July 1919.

References