USS Housatonic (SP-1697)

History
Name	El Rio (1899—1918); Housatonic (1918—1919); El Rio (1919—1925); Brazos (1925—1945));
Namesake	(Navy) Housatonic River
Owner	Morgan Steamship Co./Southern Pacific Co. (1899-1917); U.S. Navy (1917—1919); Morgan Steamship Co./Southern Pacific Co. (1919-1925); Clyde-Mallory Line (1925-1935); Atlantic, Gulf & West Indies Lines (Agwilines) (1935-1942);
Builder	Newport News Shipbuilding, Norfolk, Virginia.
Yard number	24
Launched	24 June 1899
Completed	19 October 1899
Commissioned	(Navy) 25 January 1918
Decommissioned	(Navy) 5 August 1919
In service	1899
Out of service	1942
Homeport	New York, New York
Identification	U.S. Official Number: 136761; Signal: KPJW; Signal: WHCB (1935—1942);
Fate	Lost as Brazos in collision 1942.
General characteristics
Type	Freighter (1899-1942); (Navy) Minelayer (1918—1919);
Tonnage	4,604 GRT, 2,918 NRT; 4,497 GRT, 2,703 NRT as Brazos 1927—1942;
Displacement	7,620 tons
Length	405 ft 1 in (123.5 m) overall; 379 ft 9 in (115.7 m) on water line; 391.9 ft (119.5 m) registry;
Beam	48.3 ft (14.7 m)
Draft	22 ft 6 in (6.9 m)
Depth	15.8 ft (4.8 m)
Depth of hold	26 ft (7.9 m)
Propulsion	Vertical, triple expansion steam
Speed	15 kn (17 mph; 28 km/h)
Capacity	(Navy) 830 mines (900 max)
Complement	(Navy) 18 officers, 20 chief petty officers, 400 men
Crew	49
Armament	(Navy); 1 × 5"/51 caliber gun; 2 × 3"/50 caliber guns; 2 machine guns;

The second USS Housatonic was the Southern Pacific Steamship Company freighter El Rio. The ship was one of four company ships temporarily converted for planting the World War I North Sea Mine Barrage.

El Rio was built for the Morgan Line in 1899 and served as a freighter until the United States Shipping Board took control of the vessel in 1917 for conversion to wartime naval use. After return to commercial service the ship resumed normal freight operations. In 1925 the ship was sold to the Clyde-Mallory Lines and renamed Brazos. In 1935 the vessel was sold to Atlantic, Gulf & West Indies Lines (Agwilines) continuing freight service until sunk in a collision in 1942.

History


Name	El Rio (1899—1918) Housatonic (1918—1919) El Rio (1919—1925) Brazos (1925—1945))
Namesake	(Navy) Housatonic River
Owner	Morgan Steamship Co./Southern Pacific Co. (1899-1917) U.S. Navy (1917—1919) Morgan Steamship Co./Southern Pacific Co. (1919-1925) Clyde-Mallory Line (1925-1935) Atlantic, Gulf & West Indies Lines (Agwilines) (1935-1942)
Builder	Newport News Shipbuilding, Norfolk, Virginia.
Yard number	24
Launched	24 June 1899
Completed	19 October 1899
Commissioned	(Navy) 25 January 1918
Decommissioned	(Navy) 5 August 1919
In service	1899
Out of service	1942
Homeport	New York, New York
Identification	U.S. Official Number: 136761 Signal: KPJW Signal: WHCB (1935—1942)
Fate	Lost as Brazos in collision 1942.
General characteristics
Type	Freighter (1899-1942) (Navy) Minelayer (1918—1919)
Tonnage	4,604 GRT, 2,918 NRT 4,497 GRT, 2,703 NRT as Brazos 1927—1942
Displacement	7,620 tons
Length	405 ft 1 in (123.5 m) overall 379 ft 9 in (115.7 m) on water line 391.9 ft (119.5 m) registry
Beam	48.3 ft (14.7 m)
Draft	22 ft 6 in (6.9 m)
Depth	15.8 ft (4.8 m)
Depth of hold	26 ft (7.9 m)
Propulsion	Vertical, triple expansion steam
Speed	15 kn (17 mph; 28 km/h)
Capacity	(Navy) 830 mines (900 max)
Complement	(Navy) 18 officers, 20 chief petty officers, 400 men
Crew	49
Armament	(Navy) 1 × 5"/51 caliber gun 2 × 3"/50 caliber guns 2 machine guns