SS Greater Buffalo (1924)

History
USS Sable IX-81

Name:	Greater Buffalo
Owner:	Detroit and Cleveland Navigation Company
Port of registry:	United States
Route:	Buffalo to Detroit
Builder:	American Ship Building Company of Lorain, Ohio
Cost:	$3,500,000.00
Way number:	00786
Launched:	27 October 1924
Identification:	US 223663
Fate:	Acquired by the United States Navy on 7 August 1942.
United States
Name:	USS Sable
Namesake:	Sable
Acquired:	7 August 1942
Commissioned:	8 May 1943
Decommissioned:	7 November 1945
Struck:	28 November 1945
Fate:	Sold on 7 July 1948 for scrapping.
General characteristics
Displacement:	7,739 long tons (7,863 t) (as Greater Buffalo); 6,584 long tons (6,690 t) (as Sable)
Length:	518.7 ft (158.1 m) (as Greater Buffalo); 535 ft (163 m) (as Sable)
Beam:	58 ft (18 m) (as Greater Buffalo and Sable)
Height:	21.3 ft (6.5 m) (as Greater Buffalo)
Decks:	Seven (as Greater Buffalo)
Installed power:	Inclined compound steam engine Piston #1: 66 in (170 cm) Piston #2: 96 in (240 cm) Piston #3: 96 in (240 cm) Stroke Length: 108 in (270 cm) Nine boilers
Propulsion:	Sidewheel
Speed:	18 knots (33 km/h)
Crew:	300 Officers and men (as Greater Buffalo)

USS Sable (IX-81) was a training ship of the United States Navy during World War II. Originally built the passenger ship Greater Buffalo, a sidewheel excursion steamer, she was purchased by the Navy in 1942 and converted to a freshwater training aircraft carrier to be used on the Great Lakes. Lacking a hangar deck, elevators or armaments, she was not a true warship. The main purpose of her creation was for the advanced training of naval aviators in aircraft carrier takeoffs and landings.

On her first day of service fifty-nine pilots became qualified within nine hours of operations, with each making eight takeoffs and landings apiece. Pilot training was conducted seven days a week in all types of weather conditions. One aviator that trained upon the Sable was future president George H. W. Bush.

Following World War II, Sable was decommissioned on 7 November 1945. She was sold for scrapping on 7 July 1948 to the H.H. Buncher Company. The USS Sable and her sister ship, the USS Wolverine, hold the distinction of being the only freshwater, coal-driven, side paddle-wheel aircraft carriers used by the United States Navy.

Formerly named Greater Buffalo, Sable was originally built in 1924 by the American Ship Building Company of Lorain, Ohio as a sidewheel excursion steamer designed by marine architect Frank E. Kirby. Her hull number was 00786 and the official number assigned to her was 223663.

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Wikipedia