Patrol Yachts (PY, PYc)

Most recent update: April 29, 2015.

Over the years, it has been a standard practice for various branches of the U.S. Government to acquire privately owned vessels for active service.  This includes not only the Navy, the Army and the Coast Guard but also the various technological agencies.  The Navy's practice in this regard has included the appropriation of large private yachts as coastal patrol vessels, 18 in the Spanish-American War, 8 in World War I and 73 in World War II.  Fifteen of these boats were already out of service when the Navy started assigning numbers in 1920: of the rest, 32 were classified as Patrol Yachts, (PY), and 52 as Patrol Yachts, Coastal, (PYc).  Note the size of some of the PYs, the famous names among the original owners and the leading builder - Krupp.
Type # Shipbuilder Location Hull # Original Name Original Owner Tons Feet Built Acq'd. Navy Name Disposition
    Harlan & Hollingsworth Wilmington DE 255 Alicia H. M. Flagler 301 180 1890 1898 Hornet Sold 1910
    Harlan & Hollingsworth Wilmington DE 256 Almy Frederick Gallatin 434 177 1890 1898 Eagle Sold 1920 as Reina Victoria, scrapped 1927
    Cramp Shipbuilding Philadelphia PA 274 Columbia J. H. Ladew 630 1,898 1894 1898 Wasp Sold 1921
    John Roach & Co. Chester PA 227 Viking George S. Scott 218 122 1883 1898 Viking To US Army 1899
    Houston & Woodbridge Marcus Hook PA   Restless   137 115 1887 1898 Restless Scrapped 1913
    Cramp Shipbuilding Philadelphia PA 284 Thespia David Dows, Jr. 472 174 1896 1898 Hist Sold 1911
    Ramage & Ferguson Leith, Scotland 121 Cleopatra J. Lysaght 975 185 1893 1898 Yankton Sold 1921, scrapped 1930
    Globe Iron Works Cleveland OH 46 Comanche Howard M. Hanna 607 165 1892 1898 Frolic To US Army 1909 as El Aguila, sold 1923
    Hawthorne & Co. Leith, Scotland 61 Eugenia   315 123 1897 1898 Siren Struck 1910
    George S. Lawley & Sons Neponset MA 361 Inca F. B. McQuesten 120 114 1898 1898 Inca  
    Cramp Shipbuilding Philadelphia PA 212 Stranger George Osgood 369 165 1880 1898 Stranger Sunk 1915
    Alex. Stephen & Sons Glasgow, Scotland 275 Sylvia   302 130 1882 1898 Sylvia Sold 1921
    John Roach & Co. Chester PA 282 Aileen Richard Stevens 192 120 1896 1898 Aileen Sold 1920
PY 1 J. & G. Thompson Clydebank, Scotland 296 Mayflower Ogden Goelet 2,690 273 1896 1898 Mayflower Sold 1931, reacquired 1941 as Battle, to USCG 1943 as WPG 183, sold 1947, Malla 1948, later Israeli refugee ship Exodus, scrapped 1955
PY 2 Fleming & Ferguson Paisley, Scotland 170 Hermione James Allan 545 145 1891 1898 Hawk Scrapped 1940
PY 3 Robins Dry Dock Brooklyn NY   Sovereign   775 213 1896 1898 Scorpion Scrapped 1929
PY 4 Lewis Nixon Elizabethport NJ 16 Josephine P. A. B. Widener 806 182 1896 1898 Vixen Sold 1923
PY 5 John Roach & Co. Chester PA 295 Sylph   152 124 1898 1898 Sylph Sold 1929
PY 6 Pusey & Jones Wilmington DE 360 Nokomis II H. E. Dodge 1,265 243 1914 1917 Nokomis Initially SP 609, to USCG 1943 as Bodkin (WPG 182), scrapped
PY 7 Robert Jacob City Island NY   Aramis Arthur Marks 375 158 1916 1917 Aramis Initially SP 418, sold 1933
PY 8 Gas Engine/Seabury Morris Heights NY 234 Vixen J. D. Archbold 237 168 1913 1917 Despatch Initially SP 68, to State of Florida 1928
PY 9 Harlan & Hollingsworth Wilmington DE 289 Niagara   2,690 282 1898 1917 Niagara Initially SP 136, scrapped 1933
PY 10 Bath Iron Works Bath ME 73 Isabel J. N. Willys 710 245 1917 1917 Isabel Initially SP 521, scrapped 1946
PY 11 George S. Lawley Neponset MA   Wenonah W. G. Ladd 470 163 1915 1917 Wenonah Initially SP 165, sold 1929 as Stranger, Blue Water 1938, HMCS Wolf 1940, sold 1946 as Gulf Stream
    W. F. Stone Oakland CA   Hermes   340 89 1914 1918 Hermes Sold 1926 as Lanikai, HMAS Lanikai 1942, sunk by typhoon in Subic Bay 1947
    James Leary Brooklyn NY   Patterson Coast & Geo. Survey 719 163 1883 1918 Forward Sold 1919, wrecked 1938
PY 12 George S. Lawley Neponset MA 1030 Intrepid W. P. Murphy 810 205 1929 1940 Sylph Sold 1946
PY 13 Pusey & Jones Wilmington DE 408 Lotosland E. A. Deeds 720 196 1929 1940 Siren Sold 1946
PY 14 Krupp Germania Werft Kiel, Germany   Haida   890 207 1929 1940 Argus Sold 1946 as Sarina, Rosenkavalier 1981, Haida G 2001, active
PY 15 Pusey & Jones Wilmington DE 350 Sialia J. K. Stewart 558 207 1914 1940 Coral Acquired 1917 as SP 543, sold 1920 as Yankee Clipper, reacquired 1940, scrapped 1947
PY 16 Pusey & Jones Wilmington DE 405 Nakhoda Fred J. Fisher 1,220 235 1929 1940 Zircon Sold 1947, pilot boat New York 1951, sold 1973
PY 17 George S. Lawley Neponset MA 976 Athero II   562 171 1926 1940 Jade To NDRF 1946
PY 18 Newport News SB Newport News VA 265 Ohio E. W. Scripps 565 172 1922 1940 Turquoise Initially PC 459, to Ecuador 1944 as Nueve de Octobre, sold as Esmereldas 1949, wrecked and lost 1953
PY 19 Bath Iron Works Bath ME 137 Seventeen R. W. Judson 500 191 1930 1941 Carnelian To NDRF 1946
PY 20 Bath Iron Works Bath ME 135 Sylvia L. G. Thompson 750 154 1930 1941 Tourmaline Sold 1946 as Sylvia, Kyknos 1947, scrapped 1979
PY 21 Bath Iron Works Bath ME 134 Placida H. G. Haskell 500 190 1930 1941 Ruby To NDRF 1946
PY 22 Krupp Germania Werft Kiel, Germany 497 Vagabondia   1,080 211 1928 1941 Azurlite Sold 1947 as Azurlite, Pacific Reefer 1969
PY 23 Pusey & Jones Wilmington DE 406 Rene Alfred P. Sloan 1,400 225 1929 1941 Beryl To NDRF 1946
PY 24 Krupp Germania Werft Kiel, Germany   Happy Days   705 185 1927 1942 Almandite To NDRF 1946
PY 25 Pusey & Jones Wilmington DE 407 Cambriona W. O. Briggs 1,400 225 1929 1942 Crystal Sold 1947
PY 26 Ramage & Ferguson Leith, Scotland 205 Agawa   1,000 215 1906 1942 Cythera Acquired 1917 as SP 575, returned 1919, reacquired 1942, torpedoed and lost 1942
PY 27 Krupp Germania Werft Kiel, Germany   Firenza   700 170 1926 1942 Girasol To NDRF 1947
PY 28 George S. Lawley Neponset MA 1033 Camargo   1,130 225 1925 1942 Marcasite Sold 1944 as Commando, later Westminster
PY 29 Newport News SB Newport News VA 303 Savarona R. M. Cadwalader 607 181 1926 1942 Mizpah Sold 1946, reefed off Palm Beach FL 1968
PY 30 Spear Engine Works Norfolk VA   Hydrographer Coast & Geo. Survey 1,135 165 1928 1942 Hydrographer Returned to C&GS 1946
PY 31 Krupp Germania Werft Kiel, Germany 516 Argosy C. A. Stone 800 206 1931 1942 Cythera Sold 1946, later Abril, Satira, Israeli refugee ship Ben Hecht, INS Maoz 1948, Santa Maria del Mare 1955, rebuilt 2009
PY 32 Consolidated SB Morris Heights NY 2642 Lyndonia Cyrus Curtiss 1,116 228 1920 1942 Seven Seas Sunk off Okinawa 1945
PYc 1 Consolidated SB Morris Heights NY   Savitar J. H. Seaman 104 96 1922 1940 Emerald Sold 1945, Savitar 1946, Bahama Queen 1951
PYc 2 George S. Lawley Neponset MA   Comoco   500 165 1922 1940 Sapphire To NDRF 1946
PYc 3 Long Beach SB Long Beach CA   Samona II   525 147 1931 1940 Amethyst Sold 1946 as Samona II, Pudlo 1950, Explorer 1962
PYc 4 Mathis Yachts Camden NJ 209 Arminia W. W. Atterbury 185 110 1930 1940 Agate Sold 1946 as Vallarta Allegre, active
PYc 5 Consolidated SB Morris Heights NY   Janey III   190 119 1924 1940 Onyx Struck 1945
PYc 6 Lake Union Dry Dock Seattle WA   Infanta   260 120 1930 1940 Amber Sold 1945, later Thea Foss, active
PYc 7 Pusey & Jones Wilmington DE   Vasanta   215 124 1924 1941 Aquamarine Sold 1947, Miss Ann 1955, active
PYc 8 Krupp Germania Werft Kiel, Germany   Coronet   590 185 1928 1941 Opal To Ecuador 1923 as Manabi, scrapped 1960
PYc 9 Krupp Germania Werft Kiel, Germany   Nancy Baker   645 172 1929 1941 Moonstone In collision and sank off Delaware Capes 1943 
PYc 10 Luders Marine Stamford CT   Doromar W. G. McCullough 160 112 1931 1941 Topaz Struck 1944, bell found at JRRF, destroyed there?
PYc 11 Defoe Boat Works Bay City MI 122 Comoco R. W. Judson 395 132 1927 1941 Andradite Sold 1952, burnt 1956
PYc 12 Krupp Germania Werft Kiel, Germany   Queen Anne   640 175 1928 1941 Sardonyx Sold 1947
PYc 13 Lake Union Dry Dock Seattle WA   Stranger   395 134 1938 1941 Jasper To NDRF 1948, to Scripps Inst. as Stranger 1955, Explorer 1976
PYc 14 Herreshoff Mfg. Bristol RI 172 Truant H. H. Newberry 375 138 1892 1941 Truant Returned to owner 1943
PYc 15 Krupp Germania Werft Kiel, Germany   Caritas   490 157 1925 1941 Garnet Sold 1947, laid up in Eureka CA,  later restaurant and now "Ship Ashore" in Smith River CA
PYc 16 Long Beach SB Long Beach CA   Velero III Alan Hancock 1,000 195 1931 1941 Chalcedony Scrapped 1946
PYc 17 Krupp Germania Werft Kiel, Germany   Oceanus   490 156 1923 1941 Pyrope Sold 1947 as Oceania
PYc 18 Defoe Boat Works Bay City MI 158 Bymar B. D. Miller 300 145 1938 1941 Peridot Sold 1946 as Mimosan, Halimede 1953, Zimba 1959, Maha, Al Mojil 5 2003, Matahari, now Maha
PYc 19 Bath Iron Works Bath ME 144 Seapine F. H. Goodyear 588 158 1931 1941 Rhodolite To NDRF 1947
PYc 20 Defoe Boat Works Bay City MI 139 Thalia T. M. Howell 472 160 1930 1942 Jet Scrapped 1948
PYc 21 Mathis Yachts Camden NJ 214 Alamo   385 148 1932 1942 Alabaster Sold 1947 as Alamo, Fiesta II 1960, burned and sank in Puerto Vallarta
PYc 22 Bath Iron Works Bath ME 133 Bidou J. A. Moffett 120 124 1930 1942 Olivin Scrapped 1946
PYc 23 San Diego Marine San Diego CA   Navigation     90 1922 1942 Sard Reclassified YP 261 1942, struck 1944
PYc 24 Henry B. Nevins City Island NY   Souris       1930 1942 Iolite Reclassified YP 454 1942, to NDRF 1946
PYc 25 Pusey & Jones Wilmington DE 306 Celt J. R. Maxwell 317 186 1902 1942 Phenakite Acquired 1917 as Sachen (SP 192), reacquired 1942, returned 1919, returned 1945 as Sachem, later Sightseer, Circle Line V, sold for scrap 1984 but laid up in KY
PYc 26 Newport News SB Newport News VA 316 Robador Robert Law, Jr. 523 161 1926 1942 Cymophane Sold 1952 as Seaforth, scrapped 1956
PYc 27 Pusey & Jones Wilmington DE 400 Colleen S. A. Salvage 250 150 1928 1942 Colleen Sold 1947
PYc 28 Defoe Boat Works Bay City MI 93 Sylvia L. G. Thomson 280 133 1926 1942 Ability To NDRF 1946
PYc 29 Pusey & Jones Wilmington DE   North Star   350 177 1909 1942 Gallant Sold 1945
PYc 30 Bath Iron Works Bath ME 207 Vagrant H. S. Vanderbilt 425 118 1941 1942 Vagrant Returned to owner 1947
PYc 31 Robert Jacob City Island NY   Caroline Edward Ford 339 188 1914 1942 Lash Ex-Delphine, Stellaris, Sylph II, returned to owner 1945
PYc 32 George S. Lawley Neponset MA 518 Calumet   185 150 1903 1942 Tourist Ex-Kehtoh, Dixie, YAG 14 1942, sold 1945 as Tourist, scrapped 1952
PYc 33 John Roach & Co. Chester PA 302 Idalia Eugene Tompkins 195 163 1899 1942 Palace Wx-Malay II, Palace, YAG 13 1942, sunk as target 1944
PYc 34 Defoe Boat Works Bay City MI 135 Rose B   194 139 1930 1942 Brave Sold 1946
PYc 35 Bath Iron Works Bath ME 145 Felicia J. H. Metcalf 447 148 1931 1942 Felicia To Harvard U. 1945
PYc 36 Bath Iron Works Bath ME 122 Paragon Charles J. Davol 176 138 1929 1942 Paragon Sold 1945, wrecked 1949
PYc 37 Robert Jacob City Island NY   Haida Max Fleischmann 182 127 1941 1942 Mentor Sold 1952
PYc 38 Krupp Germania Werft Kiel, Germany   Ripple   236 133 1923 1942 Carolita Sunk as target 1944
PYc 39 Defoe Boat Works Bay City MI 137 Marnell Alworth Investments 180 135 1930 1942 Marnell Scrapped 1947
PYc 40 Bethlehem Steel Quincy MA 1472 Harvard General Sea Foods 520 134 1938 1942 Captor Ex-Wave, ex-Eagle (AM 132) 1942, sold 1945
PYc 41 George S. Lawley Neponset MA 773 Florence D   200 154 1914 1942 Iolite Sold 1945
PYc 42 White & Co. Southampton, U.K.   Curlew   230 117 1927 1942 Leader Sold 1949 as Chito, Hyding, Paulla, now Grace
PYc 43 William Mueller Wilmington CA   Velero II Alan Hancock 195 125 1922 1942 Sea Scout Sold 1945 as Velero II
PYc 44 George S. Lawley Neponset MA   Gem William Ziegler 190 164 1913 1942 Perserverance Ex-Gypsy Jo, Athera, Carolus, Condor, Bedford (WPYC 346), transferred overseas 1946
PYc 45 Bath Iron Works Bath ME 131 Black Douglas R. Roebling 371 133 1929 1942 Black Douglas To FWS 1944, sold 1972 as Quest, Aquarius 1982, Aquarius W, now El Boughaz I
PYc 46 Robert Jacob City Island NY   Paragon R. J. Davol 103 120 1915 1943 Impetuous Acquired 1917 as Sybilla III (SP 104), returned to owner 1918 as Arlis, reacquired 1940 as PC 454, reclassified PYc 1943, sold 1945
PYc 47 Herreshoff Mfg. Bristol RI 394 Katoora A. L. Loomis 83 96 1930 1943 Patriot Acquired 1940 as PC 455, reclassified PYc 1943, sold 1945
PYc 48 Consolidated SB Morris Heights NY   Onwego   110 120 1931 1943 Persistent Acquired 1940 as PC 456, reclassified PYc 1943, to NDRF 1944
PYc 49 George S. Lawley Neponset MA   Enaj IV   150 120 1923 1943 Retort Acquired 1940 as PC 458, reclassified PYc 1943, struck 1944
PYc 50 Consolidated SB Morris Heights NY   Elda   380 154 1930 1943 Sturdy Acquired 1940 as PC 460, reclassified PYc 1943, to NDRF 1944
PYc 51 Herreshoff Mfg. Bristol RI 390 Vara H. S. Vanderbilt 190 150 1929 1943 Valiant Acquired 1940 as PC 509, reclassified PYc 1943, sold 1945
PYc 52 Consolidated SB Morris Heights NY   Vixen J. D. Archbold 138 110 1931 1943 Venture Acquired 1940 as PC 826, reclassified PYc 1943, to NDRF 1946