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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

YSD-1
ex
 Seaplane Wrecking Derrick No. 1 (1917 - 1920)
Floating Derrick No. 28 (1916 - 1917)

Seaplane Wrecking Derrick:
  • Built by Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, SC
  • Completed as the steel-hulled catamaran Floating Derrick No. 28, 1916
  • Redesignated Seaplane Wrecking Derrick No. 1, circa 1917
  • Initially assigned to 8th Naval District, at NAS Pensacola, FL, 1916 - 1923
  • Redesignated Seaplane Wrecking Derrick YSD-1, 17 July 1920
  • Later assigned to 5th Naval District, at Norfolk, 1923 - 1933
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Transferred to War Department, 16 May 1933
  • FInal disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 90 tons
    Length 60'
    Beam 40'
    Draft unknown
    Speed 6 knots
    Lifting Capacity 13,000 pounds
    Propulsion
    gasoline-fueled electric motor, 100hp
    two propellers
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    YSD-1
    YSD-1
    14580101    		 269k Preliminary design plan for a coastal aircraft recovery craft, from the 1911-1925 "Spring Styles Book." The future YSD-1 was built to this plan in 1916.
    Naval History & Heritage Command photo S-584-075, via shipscribe.com    		 Dave Wright
    YSD-1
    14580103    		 253k Seaplane Wrecking Derrick No. 1, probably at Pensacola, date unknown.
    Private collection of David Upton.    		 David Upton
    YSD-1
    14580102    		 877k Seaplane Wrecking Derrick No. 1 moored in the Wet Basin, NAS Pensacola, 1918. Note the World War I camouflage on the buildings, the floating blimp hangar, and Coal Barge No. 214; used for catapult experiments, it was the first floating vessel to successfully catapult an aircraft into flight.
    University of West Florida photo, for educational use only.    		 David Upton
    YSD-1
    14580104    		 1005k RPPC of Seaplane Wrecking Derrick No. 1 salvaging Burgess N-9H A-2469 off Pensacola. According to A-2469's aircraft history card, this aircraft was delivered to NAS Pensacola 24 June 1918 and crashed 29 September 1919, being stricken off charge the next day. Dave Wright
    Allegheny
    096401905    		 104k Divers working from YSD-1 attempt to raise USS Allegheny (AT-19) at NAS Pensacola, July 1922. The tug had been holed and sunk after being struck by the propeller of the collier USS Orion (AC-11).
    US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, photo 1989.119.001.030    		 Mike Green
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    This page was created by Gary P. Priolo and is maintained by David L. Wright
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    Last Updated 05 August 2025