§961 — Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure | U.S. Code

Summary

If a person in the United States arms or strengthens a foreign warship that arrived here and belonged to a foreign government, colony, district, or their citizens, and that vessel was at war with a country the United States is at peace with, that person can be fined, jailed for up to one year, or both. Arming or strengthening means adding guns, replacing guns with larger ones, or fitting equipment used only for fighting.

Title 18, §961

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever, within the United States, increases or augments the force of any ship of war, cruiser, or other armed vessel which, at the time of her arrival within the United States, was a ship of war, or cruiser, or armed vessel, in the service of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people, or belonging to the subjects or citizens of any such prince or state, colony, district, or people, the same being at war with any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people, with whom the United States is at peace, by adding to the number of the guns of such vessel, or by changing those on board of her for guns of a larger caliber, or by adding thereto any equipment solely applicable to war, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 24 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 12, 35 Stat. 1090). Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “principal” in section 2 of this title. Mandatory punishment was rephrased in the alternative. Words “within the United States” were substituted for “within the territory or jurisdiction” etc., in view of the definition of United States in section 5 of this title. Minor changes in phraseology were made.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.

§961 Strengthening armed vessel of foreign nation