The USS Akbar (SP-599) was originally a private "express cruiser" built in 1915 by the Mathis Yacht Building Company of Camden, New Jersey. Designed by Bowes and Mower, the vessel bore hull number 49 and was registered with official number 213334, signal letters LFKP, and a gross tonnage of 25. Constructed with a double-planked hull of mahogany over a steam-bent frame, the Akbar featured a distinctive flared bow and an external rudder at the stern. Its superstructure was also crafted from mahogany, contributing to its elegant appearance. Powered by two Harbeck Loew-Victor six-cylinder gasoline engines producing a combined 380 horsepower, the cruiser could be considered an "express cruiser" suitable for fast, luxurious travel. The engines, each with 7.5 x 8.5-inch cylinders and dual ignition systems, drew fuel from two tanks with a total capacity of 600 gallons, located beneath the forward and aft cockpits. The vessel featured two functional funnels—one muffled for engine and crankcase exhaust—along with four air scoops ventilating the engine room amidships. Its design included a mahogany superstructure, an owner’s stateroom with a toilet accessible via a half spiral staircase from the bridge, and a main saloon equipped with transom seating, lockers, a buffet, and a folding table. The vessel's layout was optimized for comfort, with a galley and toilet amidships, and the ability to store a tender on the saloon's top. Originally used by George W. W. Drexel of Philadelphia for summer excursions between Philadelphia and Islesboro, Maine, the yacht was acquired by the State of Maine and then transferred to the U.S. Navy on May 17, 1917. Commissioned on May 31, 1917, USS Akbar served in the 1st Naval District, conducting harbor patrols initially in Rockland, Maine, and later in Portland, Maine, through the end of World War I in November 1918. The vessel was decommissioned on January 17, 1919, struck from the Navy list in October of that year, and subsequently sold in January 1920 to F. Chester Everett of Maiden, Massachusetts.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.