USS Winchester (SP-156)

USS Winchester
History
United States
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
Canada
Name: Renard
Namesake: Renard, the French word for "fox" (previous name retained)
Commissioned: 27 May 1940
Decommissioned: 1 August 1944
Identification: pennant number: S13/Z13
Fate: Sold to private interests 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 hp (11,000 kW)
Propulsion: Two 7,500 hp (5,600 kW) geared Parsons steam turbines, two shafts
Speed: 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Armament:

USS Winchester (SP-156) was an armed yacht that served in the United States Navy as a patrol vessel from 1917 to 1919. Prior to and following World War I, Winchester was a private yacht, later renamed Renard. In World War II, Renard was requisitioned for use in the Royal Canadian Navy as a patrol vessel, keeping her name. She was returned to her owners in 1944.

Winchester displaced 399 gross tons. The yacht was 225 feet (69 m) long with a beam of 21 ft (6.4 m) and a draft of 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m). The ship was powered by two geared Parsons[1] steam turbines driving two shafts creating 15,000 horsepower (11,000 kW). This gave the ship a maximum speed of 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph).[1]

Construction and career

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 ship was ordered for construction by the millionaire Peter W. Rouse. The yacht was launched on 29 April 1916.[2] Winchester was considered a "floating palace" during her career in the 1920s.[1] The U.S. Navy acquired the yacht from her owner on 30 May 1917 for use as a patrol vessel during World War I.

United States Navy service, 1917-1919

After her acquired, the yacht 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 deployed 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

Again, SS Winchester, the yacht resumed her civilian service with Cox and Stevens. She was sold several times, first to Vincent Astor who rebuilt the yacht in 1930.[1] The ship was finished with teak, ivory and walnut. The owner's quarters, located aft, comprised a lounge, two double staterooms, four single staterooms and four baths. Forward was the dining room and crew quarters.[1] The yacht was sold to Russell A. Alger, Jr., and then to Cornelius Vanderbilt III. She later was sold to B. P. McCurdy, this latter time being rechristened SS Renard.

Royal Canadian Navy and fate

After failing to acquire any British vessels at the outset of the war for auxiliary purposes, the Royal Canadian Navy discreetly searched the American market for suitable ships. However, American law prevented the sale of ships for possible use in the war to any of the belligerents. The Canadian Navy, requisitioned unsuitable Canadian yachts and had their respective owners go the United States and buy those ships the Navy wanted as replacements. Once the ships arrived in Canada, the navy then returned the original yachts and requisitioned the new ones.[3] Renard was among those vessels chosen and was acquired in 1940.

HMCS Renard underway off Halifax during World War II

Renard was brought to Halifax, Nova Scotia and commissioned there on 27 May 1940 with the pennant number S13, which was later altered to Z13, keeping her name. The vessel then went to Quebec City where she was converted into an armed yacht, having a 12-pounder naval gun placed forward. This took until December 1940, when the ship returned to Halifax and was assigned to the Halifax Local Defence Force.[4] In 1941, Renard was tender to HMCS Stadacona and in 1942 was fitted with high speed target towing gear.[1]

Renard remained with this unit until April 1942 when the ship was taken in hand for a refit, this lasting until July. Upon completion, she was attached to HMCS Cornwallis as a torpedo training ship and the two 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes were installed aft. In July 1943 the training group moved to Digby, Nova Scotia, however by November Renard was back at Halifax.[4] In 1944, Renard was surveyed and was found not worth repairing and was paid off on 1 August. In 1945 she was sold to W.N. MacDonald of Sydney, Nova Scotia.[4][1]

The ship remained at Sydney until 1949, when the yacht was converted to a stationary power plant for a mining development near Mabou, Nova Scotia. Her turbines were stripped out and replaced with modern generators and her oil burning units were replaced with pulverized coal burning equipment.[1] The ship was derelict at Sydney, Nova Scotia in 1955.[4]

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Riches to Rags". The Crowsnest. Vol. 2 no. 6. King's Printer. April 1950. p. 9.
  2. ↑ "Winchester (54427)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 1 August 2016. (subscription required (help)).
  3. ↑ Macpherson & Barrie, p. 204
  4. 1 2 3 4 Macpherson & Barrie, p. 210

Sources

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