USS Wakiva II (SP-160)

USS "Wakiva II" (SP-160) was an armed yacht that served in the United States Navy from 1917 to 1918 and saw combat in World War I. She was originally the yacht SS "Wakiva II" built for Lamon V. Harkness in Scotland.

"Wakiva II" served as a convoy escort out of Brest, France, and had several encounters with German submarines. The ship received credit for a "probably seriously damaged" submarine in November 1917. While escorting a convoy in May 1918 in fog, "Wakiva II" was accidentally rammed and sunk by guns, checking fire momentarily to avoid hitting "Florence H.", which was steaming just beyond where the enemy submarine had suddenly appeared. The U-boat quickly submerged, and the yacht remained at the scene for 90 minutes before abandoning the search.

"Wakiva II" maintained a schedule of patrol and escort out of Brest through the late winter.

Sinking

On 21 May, she steamed in convoy with a group of eight ships on the port flank, heading eastward from the French coast. As fog set in shortly after sunset, speed was reduced. The ships crept along with "Wakiva II" taking station on the freighter s bow tore into the yacht's starboard quarter, just abaft the mainmast and forward of the after guns, and ripped a mortal gash in the "Wakiva II"'s side from the main deck down to the propeller shaft. On board "Wakiva II", there had been barely enough time to reach the general alarm. The collision threw both ships briefly on parallel courses, carrying away "Wabash"'s starboard boats. Both ships also hung together briefly before parting, with the cargo vessel slowly going astern.

While two men were lost on board "Wakiva II", individual acts of heroism occurred simultaneously. Upon feeling the shock of the collision and hearing the general alarm, Chief Gunner's Mate Oliver P. Cooper, USNRF, ran aft to the fantail where the depth charges were secured, withdrew the bursting pins from the British naval mines stored there, and set the American depth charges on "safe;" he reported that all was "secure" within five minutes of the collision. Electrician Second Class Charles E. Kirkpatrick, USNRF, on watch in the ship's radio room, remained at his post and sent out the SOS, remaining on board until abandoning at the last possible moment. Chief Boatswain's Mate Thomas Olson, USNRF, rigged out the motor whaleboat and rousted out men from below decks, and then, along with the captain, inspected and cleared the ship. Below, as the engine room filled with water, Machinist Mate First Class Charles A. A. Smith began to start the pumps before realizing that at the rate at which the water was cascading in through the rent in the ship's side, the pumps could not hold their own.

As "Wakiva II" sank by the stern, the captain and his crew pulled clear in the ship's boats at 03:30 hours. "Wakiva II" disappeared beneath the waves at 03:36 hours, as "Wabash" simultaneously lowered her undamaged boats and assisted in picking up survivors from the yacht.

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