USS Charles P. Kuper (SP-1235)

Charles P. Kuper ca. 1917, probably in New York Harbor, either just before or just after she entered United States Navy service as USS Charles P. Kuper (SP-1235).
Career (United States)
Name:	USS Charles P. Kuper
Namesake:	Previous name retained
Builder:	Browne, Tottenville, Staten Island, New York
Completed:	1892
Acquired:	August 1917
In service:	1917
Fate:	Returned to owner 21 July 1919
Notes:	Operated as commercial tug C. Offerman and Charles P. Kuper 1892-1917 and Charles P. Kuper from 1919
General characteristics
Type:	Tug
Tonnage:	51 gross tons
Length:	62 ft 5 in (19.02 m)
Beam:	17 ft 9 in (5.41 m)
Draft:	8 ft (2.4 m)
Propulsion:	Steam engine, one shaft
Complement:	4
Armament:	None

USS Charles P. Kuper (SP-1235) was a United States Navy tug in service from 1917 to 1919.

Charles P. Kuper was built as the commercial tug C. Offerman in 1892 by Browne at Tottenville on Staten Island, New York. On 29 November 1906, she was sold to the Simmons Lighterage Company^[1] of New York City, which renamed her Charles P. Kuper.

In August 1917, the U.S. Navy chartered Charles P. Kuper from her owner, the Simmons Transportation Company^[2] of New York City for use during World War I. She entered service as USS Charles P. Kuper (SP-1235) in 1917.

Assigned to the 3rd Naval District and based at New York City, Charles P. Kuper served in New York Harbor under the control of the Supply Department for the rest of World War I and into 1919.

The Navy returned Charles P. Kuper to Simmons Transportation^[3] on 21 July 1919.

Notes

1. ^ NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Charles P. Kuper (SP 1235).
2. ^ Department of the Navy Naval History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: U.S. Navy Ships: Charles P. Kuper (American Harbor Tug, 1892). Previously named C. Offerman. Served as USS Charles P. Kuper (SP-1235) in 1917-1919 gives this name for Charles P. Kuper's owner in 1917, which differs from the name given by NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Charles P. Kuper (SP 1235) for 1906 (see note 1). These apparently are two different names for the same company; it is possible that one of the names is in error or that the name of the company changed between 1906 and 1917.
3. ^ Both Department of the Navy Naval History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: U.S. Navy Ships: Charles P. Kuper (American Harbor Tug, 1892). Previously named C. Offerman. Served as USS Charles P. Kuper (SP-1235) in 1917-1919 and NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Charles P. Kuper (SP 1235) agree on this name for Charles P. Kuper's owner in 1919.

References

• This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• Department of the Navy Naval History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: U.S. Navy Ships: Charles P. Kuper (American Harbor Tug, 1892). Previously named C. Offerman. Served as USS Charles P. Kuper (SP-1235) in 1917-1919
• NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Charles P. Kuper (SP 1235)