USS Caliph

USS Caliph (SP-272) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission in 1917 and again in 1918. Caliph is derived from the word al-khalifah, Arabic word for the leader.

USS Caliph on 2 December 1918, the day she was decommissioned and returned to her owner.
History
United States
Name	USS Caliph
Namesake	Previous name retained
Builder	Matthews Yacht Building Company
Completed	1910
Acquired	May 1917
Commissioned	ca. May 1917
Decommissioned	December 1917
Recommissioned	1 April 1918
Decommissioned	2 December 1918
Fate	Returned to owner 2 December 1918
Notes	Operated as civilian motorboat Caliph 1910-1917 and from December 1918
General characteristics
Type	Patrol vessel
Length	60 ft (18 m)

Caliph was built as a civilian motorboat in 1910 by the Matthews Yacht Building Company. The U.S. Navy leased her in May 1917 for World War I service as a patrol vessel. She was commissioned as USS Caliph (SP-272).

Placed in service in the 4th Naval District—which was responsible for the Pennsylvania, Delaware, and southern New Jersey area -- Caliph performed section patrol duty until December 1917, when she was laid up for the winter at Washington, D.C..

Caliph was recommissioned on 1 April 1918 and assigned to duty with the District Communication Superintendent at Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania. She resumed her patrol duties.

Caliph was decommissioned on 2 December 1918 and returned to her owner.