History
United States
Name	USS James River
Namesake	Previous name retained
Builder	C. Crockett, Pocomoke City, Maryland
Acquired	May 1917
Commissioned	1917
Fate	Returned to owner 22 October 1918
Notes	Operated as civilian motorboat James River until 1917 and from 1918
General characteristics
Type	Patrol vessel
Length	58 ft (18 m)
Beam	11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
Draft	2 ft 9 in (0.84 m)
Speed	10 knots
Complement	5
Armament	2 × 1-pounder guns

The first USS James River (SP-861) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1918.

James River was built as a civilian motorboat of the same name by C. Crockett at Pocomoke City, Maryland. In May 1917, the U.S. Navy acquired her from her owner, the Virginia State Fish and Oyster Commission, for use as a section patrol boat during World War I. She was commissioned as USS James River (SP-861).

Assigned to the 5th Naval District, James River patrolled Pocomoke Sound, the James River, the Elizabeth River, and other parts of the lower Chesapeake Bay until just under three weeks before the end of World War I.

James River was returned to the Virginia State Fish and Oyster Commission on 22 October 1918.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• SP-861 James River at Department of the Navy Naval History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: U.S. Navy Ships -- Listed by Hull Number: "SP" #s and "ID" #s -- World War I Era Patrol Vessels and other Acquired Ships and Craft numbered from SP-800 through SP-899
• NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive James River (SP 861)