W Crv: the shortest-period Algol with non-degenerate components?

Radial velocity data for both components of W Crv are presented. In spite o f providing full radial-velocity information, the new data are not sufficie nt to establish the configuration of this important system because of large seasonal light curve perturbations, which prevent a combined light curve/r adial-velocity solution. It is noted that the primary minimum is free of ph otometric perturbations, and this property may help to explain the elusive source of these perturbations. Photometrically, the system appears to be a contact binary with poor or absent energy exchange, but such an explanation - in view of the presence of light curve perturbations - is no more plausi ble than any one of the semi-detached configurations, with either the more- massive or less-massive components filling the associated Roche lobes. Leng thening of the orbital period and the size of the less-massive component ab ove its main-sequence value, both suggest that the system is the shortest-p eriod (0.388 d) known Algol with non-degenerate components.