USS Needle (SP-649) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1919.

Needle is in the left foreground in this photograph of boats undergoing conversion for World War I use as United States Navy patrol vessels, ca. July 1917. In the center foreground is USS Inca (SP-1212). The boat on the right and the four boats in the background are unidentified.
History
United States
NameUSS Needle
NamesakePrevious name retained
BuilderGeorge Lawley & Son, Neponset, Massachusetts
Completed1906
Acquired9 June 1917
Commissioned20 June 1917
Stricken18 August 1919
FateSold 16 September 1919
NotesOperated as private motorboat Needle 1906-1917
General characteristics
TypePatrol vessel
Tonnage22 gross register tons
Length71 ft (22 m)
Beam10 ft (3.0 m)
Draft3 ft 9 in (1.14 m)
Speed12 knots
Armament2 × machine guns

Needle was built as a private motorboat of the same name by George Lawley & Son at Neponset, Massachusetts, in 1906. On 9 June 1917, the U.S. Navy acquired her from her owner, George L. Batchelder of Medford, Massachusetts, for use as a section patrol boat during World War I. She was commissioned as USS Needle (SP-649) on 20 June 1917.

Needle carried out patrol duties for the rest of World War I and into 1919.

Needle was stricken from the Navy List on 18 August 1919 and sold to Morgan Barney of New York City on 16 September 1919.

References

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