Name USS J. B. Walker Completed 1879 Decommissioned 27 March 1919 Length 75 m Builder Thomaston | Laid down date unknown Acquired 8 August 1918 Launched 1879 Weight 2,170 tons | |
 | ||
Commissioned 8 August 1918 as USS J.B. Walker (ID # 1272) | ||
USS J. B. Walker (ID 1272) was an old schooner hulk acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War I. Because of her age, condition and relatively large cargo capacity, she was used as a collier, carrying coal where needed. She was not self-propelled, and required to be towed from one port to another. Post-war, J. B. Walker was sold.
Contents
Built in Maine in 1879
J.B. Walker, a 2,136 gross ton seagoing barge, was built at Thomaston, Maine, in 1879 as a schooner. After operating commercially for nearly four decades, she was taken over by the U.S. Navy in October 1917 and placed in commission as USS J.B. Walker (ID # 1272) in August 1918.
World War I service
For the rest of World War I, and for some months after the November 1918 Armistice, she was employed carrying coal between Norfolk, Virginia, and New England. In late March 1919 J.B. Walker was assigned to the Fifth Naval District, probably for harbor service in the vicinity of Norfolk and Hampton Roads. She was sold in September 1919.