In the years following the outbreak of World War II in Europe, during which international tension also worsened in the Far East, the United States Navy augmented the Fleet to meet the growing threat. It also sought yachts, trawlers, and other suitable ships in which to train the officers and men needed by newly constructed warships.[1]
On 3 July 1941, as a part of the latter program, the Navy chartered, on a bare-boat basis, Truant, a steel-hulled steam yacht built in 1892, at Bristol, Rhode Island, by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Henry Ford had purchased the ship in 1938, and had her extensively refitted. When he offered the yacht for the duration of the emergency, the Navy agreed to his request that she be allowed to retain her name during her Navy service. The ship was classified a coastal yacht and designated PYc-14, assigned to the 9th Naval District on 11 July, and commissioned on 16 July 1941, at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, North Chicago, Illinois.[1]
World War II serviceedit
Truant plied the waters of Lake Michigan on training cruises until mid-September; then headed for Dearborn, Michigan, where she arrived on 20 September 1941. She remained there in winter quarters near the Ford Motor Company plant until the early spring of 1942, when she resumed her training cruises. On board this slim, graceful craft, officers and men of the growing and expanding Navy received schooling in basic gunnery and seamanship, which prepared them to serve on fighting ships in the war zones of the Pacific, the Atlantic, and the Mediterranean. With the onset of winter in 1942, she again tied up at her "winter quarters" at the Ford Motor Company plant at South Chicago, Ill., for the cold months and remained there into the spring of 1943.[1]
The yacht then engaged in training exercises and maneuvers in Lake Michigan into November. On 17 November 1943, Truant was decommissioned at the Ford Motor Company plant at Dearborn and returned to her owner. On 6 December 1943, her name was struck from the Navy list.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcd"Truant". Naval History and Heritage Command. 16 October 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
Photo gallery of USS Truant (PYc-14) at NavSource Naval History
May 03, 2024
truant, coastal, patrol, yacht, service, united, states, navy, history, united, states, nametruant, ownerhelen, newberry, 1892, 1938, henry, ford, 1938, 1941, builderherreshoff, manufacturing, company, bristol, rhode, island, laid, down1891, launched24, august. USS Truant PYc 14 was a coastal patrol yacht in the service of the United States Navy History United States NameTruant OwnerHelen H Newberry 1892 1938 Henry Ford 1938 1941 BuilderHerreshoff Manufacturing Company Bristol Rhode Island Laid down1891 Launched24 August 1892 FateAcquired by the Navy 3 July 1941 History United States NameTruant NamesakeName retained Acquired3 July 1941 Commissioned16 July 1941 Decommissioned17 November 1943 Stricken6 December 1943 IdentificationHull symbol PYc 14 FateReturned to her owner General characteristics Class and typepatrol boat Displacement375 long tons 381 t Length138 ft 42 m Beam17 ft 4 in 5 28 m Draft6 ft 7 in 2 01 m Installed power600 shp 450 kW Propulsion1 3 cylinder triple expansion steam engines 1 screws Speed10 kn 12 mph 19 km h Complement98 Armament2 3 in 76 mm 50 caliber gun In the years following the outbreak of World War II in Europe during which international tension also worsened in the Far East the United States Navy augmented the Fleet to meet the growing threat It also sought yachts trawlers and other suitable ships in which to train the officers and men needed by newly constructed warships 1 On 3 July 1941 as a part of the latter program the Navy chartered on a bare boat basis Truant a steel hulled steam yacht built in 1892 at Bristol Rhode Island by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company Henry Ford had purchased the ship in 1938 and had her extensively refitted When he offered the yacht for the duration of the emergency the Navy agreed to his request that she be allowed to retain her name during her Navy service The ship was classified a coastal yacht and designated PYc 14 assigned to the 9th Naval District on 11 July and commissioned on 16 July 1941 at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station North Chicago Illinois 1 World War II service editTruant plied the waters of Lake Michigan on training cruises until mid September then headed for Dearborn Michigan where she arrived on 20 September 1941 She remained there in winter quarters near the Ford Motor Company plant until the early spring of 1942 when she resumed her training cruises On board this slim graceful craft officers and men of the growing and expanding Navy received schooling in basic gunnery and seamanship which prepared them to serve on fighting ships in the war zones of the Pacific the Atlantic and the Mediterranean With the onset of winter in 1942 she again tied up at her winter quarters at the Ford Motor Company plant at South Chicago Ill for the cold months and remained there into the spring of 1943 1 The yacht then engaged in training exercises and maneuvers in Lake Michigan into November On 17 November 1943 Truant was decommissioned at the Ford Motor Company plant at Dearborn and returned to her owner On 6 December 1943 her name was struck from the Navy list 1 References edit a b c d Truant Naval History and Heritage Command 16 October 2015 Retrieved 4 March 2016 This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here External links editHerreshoff Catalogue Raisonne Photo gallery of USS Truant PYc 14 at NavSource Naval History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Truant amp oldid 1151996186, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
