USS Freehold (SP-347)

USS "Freehold" (SP-347) was a minesweeper and tug that served in the United States Navy from 1917 to 1919.
"Freehold" was built as a commercial tug of the same name in 1903 by Neafie and Levy at Philadelphia. On 17 September 1917, the U.S. Navy chartered her for use as a minesweeper and tug during World War I. She was commissioned on 22 September 1917 as USS "Freehold" (SP-347) with Ensign E. J. Nelson, USNRF, in command.
Assigned to the 3rd Naval District, "Freehold" performed minesweeping duties in the New York City area for the remainder of World War I, sweeping and buoying channels daily for convoys entering and leaving New York Harbor. She also performed general tug duties through the end of the war and into 1919.
On 17 April 1919, "Freehold" was assisting in the docking of the British Cunard Line passenger ship RMS "Saxonia" when one of "Saxonia"s propellers struck her. "Freehold" sank, with the loss of one of her crew members.
"Freehold" was refloated, overhauled, and returned to her owner on 27 May 1919.