USS Winchester (SP-156)
| 300px USS Winchester | |
| Career (United States) | 100x35px |
|---|---|
| Name: | USS Winchester |
| Namesake: | Previous name retained |
| Builder: | Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine |
| Completed: | 1916 |
| Acquired: | 30 May 1917 |
| Commissioned: | 4 September 1917 |
| Decommissioned: | 19 December 1919 |
| Fate: | Sold 24 March 1921 |
| Notes: |
Operated as private yacht SS Winchester 1916-1917 and SS Winchester and SS Renard 1921-1940 Served in Royal Canadian Navy as patrol vessel HMCS Renard (S13), later reclassified Z13, 1940-1944 Returned to owners 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Patrol vessel |
| Tonnage: | 399 gross tons |
| Length: | 225 ft (69 m) |
| Beam: | 21 ft (6.4 m) |
| Draft: | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) (aft) |
| Installed power: | 15,000 horsepower (11.2 megawatts) |
| Propulsion: | Two 7,500-horsepower (5.6-megawatt) geared steam turbines, two shafts |
| Speed: | 31.65 knots |
| Armament: |
1 x 3-inch (76.2-millimeter) gun 1 x 6-pounder gun 2 x machine guns 1 x "Y gun" depth charge projector |
USS Winchester (SP-156) was an armed yacht that served in the United States Navy as a patrol vessel from 1917 to 1919.
Contents
Construction, acquisition, and commissioning
SS Winchester was built as a fast, steel-hulled, steam-powered, destroyer-like civilian yacht in 1916 by Bath Iron Works at Bath, Maine. The U.S. Navy acquired her from her owner, Mr. Peter W. Rouss, on 30 May 1917 for use as a patrol vessel during World War I. She was commissioned on 4 September 1917 as USS Winchester (SP-156) with Lieutenant, junior grade, R. C. Nickerson, USNRF, in command.
Winchester initially was assigned to section patrol duty in the 2d Naval District in southern New England, patrolling the coast between Chatham, Massachusetts, and New London, Connecticut.
In January 1918, she was reassigned to the 5th Naval District and operated in the Norfolk-Hampton Roads area of Virginia, where she was assigned to special duty with the U.S. Navy Bureau of Construction and Repair to test minesweeping equipment. Late in December 1918, she moved once again, this time to City Island in the Bronx, New York, where she continued her minesweeping testing duties. On 13 April 1919, she returned to the 5th Naval District, operating out of Yorktown, Virginia, continuing to test minesweeping gear.
Winchester was decommissioned at Norfolk on 19 December 1919. After several attempts, she was finally sold to Cox and Stevens of New York City on 24 March 1921.
Civilian career, 1921-1940
Once again SS Winchester, the yacht resumed her civilian service with Cox and Stevens. She was sold several times, first to Vincent Astor, then to Russell A. Alger, Jr., and then to Cornelius Vanderbilt III. She later was sold to B. P. McCurdy, this time being renamed SS Renard.
Renard was sold to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1940 and commissioned as HMCS Renard (S13) for use in inshore patrol duty during World War II. Later reclassified Z13, she was decommissioned in 1944 and returned to her owners.
References
- This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- Department of the Navy Naval Historical Center Online Library of Selected Images: U.S. Navy Ships: USS Winchester (SP-156), 1917-1921. Originally the civilian yacht Winchester (1916)
- NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive: HMCS Renard (Z 13) ex-S-13 ex-USS Winchester (SP 156)
