The USS Olympic (SP-260) was a patrol vessel built as a civilian yacht in 1913 by E. W. Heath in Seattle, Washington. Constructed primarily for private use, the vessel was acquired by the U.S. Navy on 15 May 1917 from Frank Wright of Seattle, in response to the needs of World War I. She was commissioned on 9 June 1917 as USS Olympic (SP-260) and assigned to the 13th Naval District, with her operations centered around Puget Sound. As a section patrol vessel, Olympic's duties involved patrolling the waters in and around Puget Sound to ensure maritime security during the war. The vessel's specifications are not detailed in the provided content; however, her service as a patrol craft suggests a size and design suitable for coastal patrol duties typical of private yachts converted for military service. Her operational role was primarily to safeguard the naval approaches in her designated district during the wartime period. After the end of her naval service in 1919, she was transferred to the United States Public Health Service on 13 September 1919, where she was renamed USPHS Bailhache on 12 November 1919, in honor of Dr. Preston H. Bailhache. She served as a boarding vessel in Seattle until her sale in 1934 to H. W. McCurdy. Subsequently, she returned to civilian use as the yacht Moby Dick, owned by S. Catherine McCurdy. During World War II, the vessel was requisitioned by the U.S. Army in December 1941, renamed USAS Q-108, and served until 1946. After her military service, she reverted to her previous name, Moby Dick, and was used as a cargo and passenger vessel, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Her long operational history culminated in her sinking at her moorings in Everett, Washington, on 24 May 1989. Though refloated and stored, she was eventually scrapped, marking the end of her maritime career. The vessel’s diverse service history — from patrol duties to public health service, military service, and civilian passenger and cargo operations — highlights her versatility and significance in early 20th-century maritime history.

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