HMCS Cougar (Z15)
_beam.jpg) HMCS Cougar in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, ca. December 1940. | |
| Career (Canada) | Canadian Blue Ensign |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMCS Cougar |
| Namesake: | The cougar, a large, solitary cat native to the Americas |
| Builder: | George Lawley and Sons, Neponset, Massachusetts |
| Completed: | 1916 |
| Acquired: | 1940 |
| Commissioned: | 11 September 1940 |
| Decommissioned: | 23 November 1945 |
| Fate: | Returned to owner 1946; sank September 1950 |
| Notes: | Operated as civilian yacht Sabalo 1916-1917; as United States Navy patrol vessel USS Sabalo (SP-225) 1917-1919; as civilian Sabalo 1919-1931 and Breezin' Thru 1931-1940 and 1945-1950 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Patrol vessel |
| Tonnage: | 204 gross tons |
| Length: | 140 ft (43 m) |
| Beam: | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Draught: | 10 ft (3.0 m) |
| Speed: | 10 knots |
| Complement: | 40 |
| Armament: | 1 x 6-pounder gun |
HMCS Cougar (Z15) was an armed yacht that served in the Royal Canadian Navy as a patrol vessel from 1940 to 1945.
Construction and early career
Cougar was built as a civilian motor yacht Sabalo in 1916 by George Lawley and Sons at Neponset, Massachusetts. The U.S. Navy acquired her in 1917 and employed her as the patrol vessel USS Sabalo (SP-225) for the remainder of World War I, returning her to her owner, W. Earl Dodge of New York City, in 1919.
Dodge sold Sabalo to Van Lear Black of Baltimore, Maryland, in 1921. Black in turn sold her in 1931 to the Albert Pack Corporation of Chicago, Illinois, which renamed her Breezin' Thru. In 1937, Leila Y. Post Montgomery of Battle Creek, Michigan, bought Breezin' Thru, then sold her in 1940 to Bearl Sprott Ltd. of Vancover, British Columbia, Canada.
The Royal Canadian Navy acquired Breezin' Thru in 1940 and commissioned her as the patrol vessel HMCS Cougar (Z15) on 11 September 1940.
Cougar was placed on antisubmarine patrol out of Esquimalt, British Columbia. In May 1942 she was transferred to Prince Rupert Force, based at Prince Rupert, British Columbia. She returned to Esquimalt in June 1944, where she served as an examination vessel.
Cougar was decommissioned on 23 November 1945 and returned her Bearl Sprott Ltd. in 1946.
Later career
Once again named Breezin' Thru, the yacht operated as a pleasure craft after her return to Bearl Sprott. She was sunk during a hurricane at Kingston, Jamaica, in September 1950.
References
- HMCS Cougar - source: readyayeready.com
- This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- Department of the Navy: Navy History and Heritage Command: Online Library of Selected Images: Civilian Ships: Sabalo (American Motor Yacht, 1916). Served as USS Sabalo (SP-225) in 1917-1919
- NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive: HMCS Cougar (Z 15) ex-USS Sabalo (SP 225)
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