History
United States
Name	USS Gretchen
Namesake	Previous name retained
Completed	1902
Acquired	20 August 1917
Commissioned	24 August 1917
Decommissioned	1 January 1919
Fate	Returned to owners 1 January 1919
Notes	Operated as civilian motorboat Gretchen 1902-1917 and from 1919
General characteristics
Type	Patrol vessel
Tonnage	11 gross register tons
Length	54 ft (16 m)
Beam	12 ft (3.7 m)
Draft	3 ft 6 in (1.07 m)
Speed	9 knots
Armament	2 × 6-pounder guns

The second USS Gretchen (SP-1181) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1919.

Gretchen was built as a civilian motorboat of the same name in 1902 by White of Belhaven, North Carolina. On 20 August 1917, the U.S. Navy acquired her from her owners, the North Carolina Fisheries Commission, for use as a section patrol boat during World War I. She was commissioned as USS Gretchen (SP-1181) at Oriental, North Carolina, on 24 August 1917.

After fitting out at Norfolk, Virginia, Gretchen was assigned to the 5th Naval District and based at the patrol station at Wanchese, North Carolina. She cruised Albemarle Sound and Pamlico Sound on section patrol duty for the remainder of World War I. She also performed inspection and patrol duties for the North Carolina Fisheries Commission during the period.

Gretchen was decommissioned and simultaneously returned to the fisheries commission on 1 January 1919.

Gretchen should not be confused with USS Gretchen (SP-423), another patrol vessel in U.S. Navy service at the same time.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive: Gretchen (SP 1181)