The US Secretary of State on 1 May 1917 that the Portuguese minister requested verbal the plans for the 110 foot motor boats under construction for the US Navy and asked his colleague to transmit those further. The cruising range of the vessels was somewhat small for passing the Atlantic Ocean under own power but were also too heavy to be transported on board of ships. So in an eventually voyage was escort necessary. Costs of a vessel with ordnance of 2-3” guns, 3 machine guns and ammunion was between 90,000-10,000 US dollars. The plans were indeed sent to Portugal.(1)
Note
1. This must be the SC-1 class submarine chaser of which 441 were completed between 1917-1919. Displacement 77 (normal load)-85 (full load) tons and as dimensions 105 (between perpendiculars)-110 (over all) x 14.9 x 5.7 feet or 32-34 x 4,40 x 1.70 metres, armament 1-3”7.6cm 23 cal gun, 2-0.30”/7.62mm Colt machine guns and 1 Y gun depth charge projector. Except for the US Navy, Army and Coast Guard served the boats in the French, Cuban and Bulgarian navies.
Source
Record Group 64: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration Series: Records of the Department of State Relating to Internal Affairs of Portugal. Military Affairs and the Army: 853.20 - 853.206/7 THRU Naval Affairs, Navy, Naval Vessels: Equipment and Supplies: 853.34 - 853.348. Microcopy 705 roll 13
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