Note: This is the start of a page devoted to the use of private yachts during World War II. Please consider it a work in progress, and forward any relevant information you may have so that we can include it here. Following the article below is a list of yachts with information known about their activities during World War II service.
The May 1942 issue of Pacific Motor Boat magazine had a cover story on the Coast Guard Auxiliary, which is scanned and attached below. On the Editor's page the article was introduced as follows:
The growing hundreds of Pacific Coast boat owners enrolled as members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary receive special recognition in this issue of Pacific Motor Boat.
The Auxiliary is not to be confused with the Coast Guard Reserve. In the Reserve, boats are loaned out-right for the duration, to be maintained and operated by the Coast Guard itself. The owner may or may not choose to enter service; if he does, he becomes a member of the armed forces as an enlisted man, rating or commissioned officer of the Coast Guard Reserve.
In contrast, Auxiliary enrollment involves only the part-time services of members and their boats on a purely voluntary, unpaid basis. They receive no compensation for the use of their craft, nor for their own time. Assignments are rotated, with each member called upon in turn to handle his share of a flotilla's duties.
Highly significant are two facts about Auxiliary activity; first, the routine harbor patrols, picket duty, and special services they perform serve to release many a regular Coast Guard boat for other urgent purposes, and second, the Auxiliary fleet of well-found small craft in the hands of trained skippers is a mighty valuable kind of reserve force in any emergency.
Excerpt from The United States Coast Guard in World War II: A History of Domestic and ... By Thomas P. Ostrom:
The Coast Guard utilized several kinds of watercraft and crews to complete the prewar and wartime missions assigned to the service. It acquired private pleasure craft to patrol harbor areas. Coast Guard reservists ran hundreds of these craft, with "CGR" and a designated number stenciled on the bow. The CGR numbers, unlike CG boat numbers, did not indicate the length of the boat. The Coast Guard usually designated a name on craft more than 100 feet in length and put a number on the hull of craft less than 100 feet. Most of the watercraft were returned to the owners after the war.
Private yachts and fishing boats were gradually armed by the Navy with depth chanrges, machine guns, and sound (sonar) gear. Patriotic yacht owners, many with Reserve officer commissions, manned their vulnerable vessels far out to sea in often stormy waters at significant cost and risk. The fledgling crews stood by to report submarine activity and initiate rescue missions.
"Pre-War"
In our sport, "Pre-War" defines all craft delivered before December 7th 1941. It is significant because all the world's manufacturing had shifted to produce goods in an effort to defeat the axis forces, Germany and Japan. During wartime an individual could not purchase a luxury boat or an automobile or a toaster or a clock or a radio or a pair of nylon stockings. If you went to work, you did something that supported the war effort.
When peacetime production returned after World War II, advances in engineering and design resulted in watercraft with look that reflected 5 years advance in design. These boats also had advances in machinery that was developed during the war.Such advances were realized after World War I, and the American Civil War as well.
-Dan Payne
External Links:
Maritime Military Museum Honoring the memory of the fine motor yachts which served or were conscripted for military service during the war years.
This is a list of boats that we know of that served in the military during World War II. Click on a boat name to view the boat page, which usually includes more information about the boat's military use.45 records found.
At the onset of World War II, Annie Laurie, as "GLADLAR" was conscripted by the United States Coast Guard for coastal patrol. She was stationed off of Cape Cod, where she spent 9 days on duty listening for submarines and 5 days in port. She was reportedly fitted with 50 caliber guns and a depth charge rack.
During World War II, many private yachts were donated to the Navy or Coast Guard for domestic patrol duties. Argosy's owner died shortly before the war started, since the Coast Guard records show ownership transferring to his widow Pearl Wilson. Mrs. Wilson donated the boat to help the war effort, and Argosy was commissioned into the Coast Guard Reserves as CGR-789 in April 1942. The Coast Guard lists her as being in active service from 4/42 to 11/44, then surplused in April 1945. There is evidence that the Coast Guard removed the fantail canopy and side deck covers.
Like many Canadian and U.S. yachts of her day, Deerleap was conscripted during World War II, painted gray, and equipped with deck artillery. It was also during those years that the original Hall-Scott gasoline engines were replaced with 120 bhp Vivian diesels, reportedly weighing 7,800 pounds each.
During World War II, Faun was painted battleship grey and put on patrol, probably as a part of one of the very active Coast Guard Auxiliary units- almost certainly Flotilla 28, but possibly Flotilla 24 (the flotilla “sponsored” by SYC)- which were based on Lake Union in Seattle, Washington. Such units usually consisted of volunteer vessels and their owners. One of Faun’s owners, R.V. Spencer, logged over 600 hours in one year of patrol and official duties as a CBM (T) (temporary chief bosun’s mate, “chief” (commander) of the vessel) as part of that flotilla during the time he was an owner of Faun (as well as of another vessel), but records of the reservist boats are quite sketchy. Traces of the grey paint remain visible in obscure locations on the vessel.
Flying Cloud was drafted into Coast Guard Seattle April 1940 as USCG-1313 of the 13th District. She was then transferred to the US Navy and manned by a 6 member crew and rigged with Sonar and 4 x 300 lb depth charges on her stern, and a 50 cal. standing gun on her bow, she patrolled the Eastern Straits, flotilla 13 being stationed in Anacortes.
I have spent many hours at the National Archive and the Coast Guard Museum, as well as the many Naval Historical Societies online. We have the transfer papers from Francis Brownell Jr. the original owner, to the Coast Guard. Including the subsequent transfer papers to the US Navy; we have been unable to locate her USN name and number as she was listed as the ex-Flying Cloud in the USN Documents that we have found. The Sonar was still on the boat and continued to operate until 1997.
Flying Cloud was taken out of service and sold in 1944, as the original owner was so disappointed in her condition, she was painted Naval Gray stem to stern. Brownell also was drafted to the US Executive Branch, and became the Cesar for the Silver Bullion policy during the WWII.
Flying Cloud continued her war effort as MV Researcher; she was sold to Lyle Branchflower and allotted an unlimited diesel fuel usage. She was then outfitted with a full rendering lab and began fishing the waters of the Pacific Coast from California to Alaska. Lyle was the single US Company that developed the fish liver oil business, which then provided the raw stock for creating Vitamins A and E for the troops. During her research years Flying Cloud motored as far South as San Francisco and North to Dutch Harbor Alaska, she went to Alaska every year until the late 1950's as a research vessel. In 1964 she was re-powered and converted back to a private yacht.
The British Navy conscripted Humble during World War II, outfitting the vessel — named Able at that time — with hydraulic pumps and a steam engine. It was used as a firefighting boat to protect military supplies and buildings.
Lady Grace was in the Coast Guard [Auxiliary] during WWII -- her number was CGA2450. Skipper Ralph James, crew Coast Guardsman Charles Quirk. She served 1942 to 1944 or so.
Owner has BW photo copies of her covered with ice from a patrol in Hood Canal in 1942 or 1943. She encountered a severe winter storm, was almost sunk by 15 foot seas and it took the skipper 5 hours to run back to Hoodsport after being unable to get around Quatsap Point because of the seas. He tried four times to get around the point and but could not control the boat as waves were breaking completely over the boat.
Malibu served in the US Navy, for anti-submarine patrols off the coast of Southern California. At one time, depth charges were placed on her aft deck. After testing them, the vessel suffered damage from the blast.
In 1942, as "Dixonia", Acania helped the Army and Navy with tests of a concept called "Sonic Deception". Sound recording, playback, and amplification was still in it's infancy, and a great deal of research was done to try and create a sound system that could be deployed on a ship and used to deceive the enemy, for example by broadcasting fake sounds of a landing invasion -- anchor chains rattling, engines and machinery and troop noises -- all hidden by smoke screens. The enemy could be deceived into preparing for an invasion at the wrong location, while the real invasion would take place somewhere else. Such a system was successfully tested at Sandy Hook, NJ, October 27,1942, in which Dixonia participated. [Ghosts of the ETO] The actor Douglass Fairbanks Jr., was aboard as an observer for the Navy.
Conscripted by the Navy during WWII, Sueja III was ballasted down and set out on patrol, mainly in the Aleutian Islands. After the war effort, the Army returned the yacht to her owners.
In 1942, MaryMack was pressed into service. Like most other large cruisers of this vintage, she was painted gray and converted into a patrol boat -- according to local lore, a 50 caliber machine gun was mounted on her foredeck. For several years, MaryMack patrolled off the Oregon Coast out of Nehalem Bay.
His Majesty's Government gained ownership of Northwind during the Second World War, where she carried out a vital role in the evacuation of British troops at Dunkirk, and would be often moored outside the Houses of Parliament. After the war, she was sent to promote British export trade. This would take her on a five year round the world cruise. The goodwill tour itself was apparently a major intelligence gathering expedition.
Per Mr. Laurence Hunter, who served as Second Mate during 1944, we have learned the following about Olympus' wartime service:
During World War II, Junaluska operated for a time out of Prince Rupert BC, patrolling Dixon Entrance watching for Japanese submarines. She was commissioned in the U.S. Army as Q-121, Personnel boat. Her ten person crew was made up primarily of civilian Merchant Mariners. She did not have any guns mounted, but had one Army Guard who was equipped with a rifle only. She relocated back to Seattle on July 1st, 1944.
When the war broke out in 1941, the Navy conscripted Pat Pending for use patrolling the submarine nets that were put in place across the Golden Gate. As was the custom she was painted wartime gray, and had guns and depth charges mounted on her. She was decommisioned in 1944 and sold back to the Owen family for $100. She was the first YP to be returned to her original owner under Public Law 305 of 1944, which required the Navy to offer them first to their previous owners at fair market value. The law was passed by Don Owen, who wanted his beloved yacht back - he offered $10, but had to pay $100!
YP-119 earned five service chevrons for her two and a half years service.
The SS JEREMIAH O'BRIEN is one of two remaining fully functional Liberty ships of the 2,710 built and launched during WWII. The O'BRIEN has the distinction of being the last unaltered Liberty ship and remains historically accurate. Moored at Pier 45, Fisherman's Wharf, she is a premier San Francisco attraction.
In December of 1941, Sea Breeze was placed into service by the US Navy and was used as a "Yard Ambulance Boat" in and around the San Francisco Bay. A bronze plaque in the Pilot House commemorates her service (USS Sea Breeze) to country during that time.
In 1942 Sea Dog was conscripted into the U.S. Navy. She was painted gray and a 50 cal. machine gun was mounted on her bow. For the duration of WWII, her duties included patrolling Los Angeles for Japanese Submarines.
After launching and commissioning, she was put into service just before and during World War II surveying the Aleutian Islands in the summer and working in Puget Sound in the winter. She completed a “wire drag” survey of Puget Sound in 1943 that generated data about depth and bottom contours that are still shown on charts today. Her work in the Aleutian Islands during World War II is shrouded in mystery due to the high level of security applied to the Aleutian battles now called the Thousand Mile War.
Throughout her military service, she was known as E LESTER JONES, after a well-respected commander of the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey in the 1920’s. E. Lester Jones was also one of the founders of the American Legion. For many years, a plaque hung in the pilothouse of the SUMMER WIND to commemorate this. Interestingly, a reference to this plaque shows up in Webster’s online dictionary under the definition of “plaque.
Polaris -- a yacht built in 1930 at Seattle, Wash., by the Lake Union Dry Dock Co. -- was purchased by the Navy from Edward and Kathryn Lowe on 23 December 1940; converted for naval service by the Winslow Marine Railway and Shipbuilding Co., Inc., Winslow, Wash.; renamed Amber on 10 January 1941 and simultaneously designated PYC-6; and placed in commission at Seattle on 3 March 1941, Lt. W. B. Combs in command.
USS Amber, Seattle Navy Pier Oct 1941
Amber was assigned to the Inshore Patrol of the 13th Naval District and, from May until early August, operated around Seattle, Tacoma, and Port Townsend, Wash. The patrol craft left Seattle on 6 August on a cruise to Alaska, and visited Ketchikan, Juneau, and Sitka, before returning to Seattle early in September.
In November, the ship was assigned to patrol duty at Astoria, Oreg., and patrolled the Strait of Juan de Fuca off Neah Bay, Wash., under the control of the Northwest Sea Frontier Patrol Group.
Amber was decommissioned on 18 October 1944, and her name was struck from the Navy list on 13 November 1944. The ship was sold back to her former owners on 13 June 1945.
In 1943, Wanda was conscripted by the U.S. Navy for coastal sub-watch duty due to her speed, size and wooden hull. The Navy replaced her three gas sterling engines with two GM Detroit Diesel 671’s.
Westward served, conscripted by the U.S. of A. Public Roads Administration on January 3rd, 1943 and returned June 3rd, 1947----apparently immediately subsequent to her sale (or sale of her “return” rights) by her pre-war owners to Doc Freeman & partners----Messers. Gibson & Masserly. The foregoing per Westward’s U.S.C.G. Abstract of Title.
Westward’s war-time service was carried out, at least in part, in San Francisco Bay where she was reliably (albeit anecdotally) reported in billet-duty in Petaluma, CA. Upon her release from war-time service, she was drydocked in Sausalito to prepare for her return voyage to Seattle---where she joined Doc Freeman’s post-war navy for six months. Westward’s northbound delivery-crew included Dave Updike.
This is the extent of our knowledge of Westward’s war-time Service; we would welcome any further information to compliment the history we’ve complied for Westward’s recent listing (April 2007) in the National Register of Historic Places.
The growing hundreds of Pacific Coast boat owners enrolled as members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary receive special recognition in this issue of Pacific Motor Boat.
the C.G.A. - Our Volunteer Third Navy [Pacific Motor Boat, May 1942]![Acania 1929 [March 1959, San Francisco]](https://classicyachtinfo.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/boat-images/acania-1929.jpg)
![Gyrfalcon [2022]](https://classicyachtinfo.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/yachts/gyrfalcon-220809_1h8a8069.jpg)
![Haida [2017]](https://classicyachtinfo.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/boat-images/haida-edmiston-scholey-dsc_9535_edit-1400x933.jpg)
