USS Boy Scout (SP-53)

USS "Boy Scout" (SP-53), a wooden-hulled motorboat that served as a section patrol craft, [cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/shusn-no/spid0001.htm|title="SP" #s and "ID" #s -- World War I Era Patrol Vessels and other Acquired Ships and Craft|date=2006-12-15|publisher=Naval Historical Center, U. S. Navy|accessdate=2008-05-11] was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the Boy Scouts of America and by extension for Scouting throughout the world. Her keel was laid down in 1916 at Lynn, Massachusetts, by Britt Brothers. [cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-civil/civsh-b/boy-sct.htm|title=Boy Scout (American Motor Boat, 1916). Became USS Boy Scout (SP-53) in 1917|date=2004-08-19|publisher=Naval Historical Center, U. S. Navy|accessdate=2008-05-11] She was acquired by the United States Navy from Albert Geiger, Jr., of Brookline, Massachusetts, and classified as a section patrol (SP) craft. Initially assigned to First Naval District New England, "Boy Scout" was given the hull classification symbol SP-53 and was shipped overseas for "aviation service" perhaps, in view of her speed, for use as a crash boat at a naval air station. However, records of her operations and ultimate fate have not survived. The 1920-07-01 edition of "Ship's Data, U.S. Naval Vessels" described "Boy Scout" as "overseas" but did not state where, only adding the curious notation that she was "not definitely accounted for, and in the absence of further reports will not be listed hereafter." [cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b8/boy-scout-i.htm|title=Boy Scout|last=Cressman|first=Robert J.|date=2005-12-14|work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships|publisher=Naval Historical Center, U. S. Navy|accessdate=2008-05-11]

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