The USS General Putnam (SP-2284) was a ferry boat constructed in 1902 by Pusey & Jones in Wilmington, Delaware. She measured 122 feet 6 inches (37.34 meters) in length and 28 feet (8.5 meters) in width, with a draft of 9 feet (2.7 meters). The vessel displaced approximately 205 tonnes (202 long tons; 226 short tons) and was powered by a single shaft driven by a 325 indicated horsepower steam engine, enabling a top speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). Her design included a modest crew complement of 13 men, and her construction featured typical early 20th-century ferry characteristics suitable for short-distance, local service. The vessel was acquired by the U.S. Navy under charter from her owner, John E. Moore & Co., on February 6, 1918, during World War I. She was officially taken over by the Navy on July 16, 1918, and placed into service at New York City on July 29, 1919. Assigned to the 3rd Naval District, General Putnam served primarily in a ferry capacity, operating between the New York Navy Yard and Ellis Island. During her service, she was manned by her owner’s civilian crew, reflecting her role as a civilian-operated vessel under military control during wartime. Her service was relatively brief, and following the end of World War I, the USS General Putnam was returned to her owner on October 2, 1919. Her role as a ferry boat during her naval service highlights her importance in supporting naval logistics and personnel movement in the New York area during the war. Her design and operational history exemplify the adaptation of civilian vessels for military auxiliary purposes during a period of national emergency, emphasizing her maritime significance in early 20th-century naval operations.

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