From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

An alternate spelling of Quinebaug a river in southern Massachusetts and eastern Connecticut.

(SP-1687: dp. 5,150; I. 375'; b. 42'; dr. 18'6"; s. 17 k.; cpl. 345; a. 1 5", 2 3", 2 mg)

Quinnebaugh (SP-1687), formerly Jefferson, was built in 1899 by Delaware River Iron and Shipbuilding and Engineering Works Chester, Pa., for the Old Dominion Steamship Co.; chartered by the Navy 3 December 1917, converted to a mine planter by Robbin's Repair Basin and Drydock Co., Brooklyn, N.Y.; and commissioned at Brooklyn 28 March 1918, Comdr. David Pratt Mannix in command.

Quinnebaugh reported to the Atlantic Mine Force and was ordered 13 May 1918 to Invergordon, Scotland for mining operations in the North Sea with Mine Squadron 1. From 14 July to 26 October, she successfully completed ten mining missions screened by British destroyers of the 14th Flotilla (Grand Fleet). Quinnebaug was not divererted from her mission by two encounters with German submarines 20-21 September, and succeeded in planting approximately 6, 040 mines in the Northern Barrage. Upon completion of this duty she returned home, decommssioned at Philadelphia 6 February 1919, and was returned to her owner 19 March 1919.