USS Helianthus
USC&GS Helianthus in northern waters, outfitted with an antenna wire for radio acoustic ranging operations | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| United States Navy | |
| Name | Helianthus |
| Namesake | Helianthus, the genus to which sunflowers belong (previous name retained) |
| Builder | Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, Rhode Island |
| Yard number | 288 |
| Launched | 17 June 1912 |
| Completed | 1912 |
| Acquired | by Navy: 11 June 1917 |
| Commissioned | 6 July 1917 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Transferred to United States Coast and Geodetic Survey 28 March 1919 |
| Notes | In use as private motorboat Helianthus 1912–1917 |
| U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey | |
| Name | USC&GS Helianthus |
| Namesake | Previous name retained |
| Acquired | 28 March 1919 |
| Commissioned | 1919 |
| Decommissioned | 1939 |
| Fate | Sold 1939 |
| General characteristics (as yacht 1913) | |
| Tonnage | 35 GRT |
| Length | 60.5 ft (18.4 m) registered |
| Beam | 12.73 ft 6 in (4.03 m) |
| Depth | 6.7 ft (2.0 m) |
| Propulsion | Gasoline engine, 50 indicated hp |
| Crew | 3 excluding master |
| General characteristics (as U.S. Navy vessel) | |
| Type | Patrol vessel |
| Displacement | 37 tons |
| Length | 64 ft (20 m) |
| Beam | 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) |
| Draft | 3 ft 3 in (0.99 m) |
| Propulsion | Gasoline engine |
| Speed | 10 knots |
| Armament | 1 × 1-pounder gun |
| General characteristics (as U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey vessel) | |
| Type | Survey launch |
| Length | 64 ft (20 m) |
| Beam | 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) |
| Draft | 4 ft (1.2 m) |
USS Helianthus (SP-585) was a patrol vessel in commission in the United States Navy from 1917 to 1919, seeing service in World War I. After her U.S. Navy service, she was in commission in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey as the survey launch USC&GS Helianthus from 1919 to 1939. She was named after the Helianthus, the genus to which the sunflower belongs.