USS Alice (SP-367) was a private motorboat constructed in 1913 by Gas Engine and Power Co. and Charles L. Seabury at Morris Heights, New York. Measuring 60 feet in length with a beam of 10 feet 10 inches and a draft of three feet, the vessel was designed as a small, swift motorboat suitable for inland and harbor operations. It had a displacement of approximately 20 long tons (around 22 short tons) and was powered by two 80-horsepower, six-cylinder gasoline engines made by Speedway, enabling a top speed of approximately 16 to 16.5 knots. Purchased by the United States Navy on 8 May 1917 from David H. Morris of New York City, USS Alice was commissioned on 29 September 1917. Its primary role during World War I was to serve as a dispatch boat within the 3rd Naval District, specifically operating around New York Harbor. In this capacity, it was responsible for transporting inspection and inventory parties, contributing to naval logistics and communication efforts during the war. The vessel was crewed by a minimal complement of six sailors and was armed with a machine gun and two one-pounder guns, reflecting its auxiliary role rather than combat engagement. USS Alice served through the end of the war, continuing in her dispatch duties until she was decommissioned on 9 May 1919. Subsequently, she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 7 July 1919 and sold on 5 August to Reinhard Hall of New York City. As a relatively small and swift vessel, USS Alice played a modest but vital role in maintaining naval operations within the busy harbor environment during wartime, exemplifying the use of private motorboats adapted for military service during World War I.

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