USS Alabaster
USS Alabaster (PYc-21) at anchor in San Pedro Bay, Philippine Islands while at Navy Yard for modification. c. July 1945 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| Name | Alamo |
| Owner | William F. Ladd |
| Builder | Mathis Yacht Building Company, Camden, New Jersey |
| Launched | 1932 |
| Fate | Sold in 1934 to Lucius B. Manning, President of the Cord Automobile Corp |
| United States | |
| Name | Ronaele |
| Owner | Lucius B. Manning |
| Acquired | 1934 |
| Fate | Sold back to William F. Ladd in 1936 |
| United States | |
| Name | Rellimpa, Ranley and Ronaele |
| Owner | William F. Ladd |
| Acquired | 1936 |
| Fate | Sold to the Navy 3 January 1942 |
| United States | |
| Name | Alabaster |
| Namesake | Alabaster |
| Builder | Philadelphia Navy Yard |
| Acquired | 3 January 1942 |
| Commissioned | 31 January 1942 |
| Decommissioned | 17 December 1945 |
| Stricken | 21 January 1946 |
| Fate |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Patrol boat |
| Displacement | 230 long tons (234 t) |
| Length | 143 ft (44 m) |
| Beam | 23 ft 5 in (7.14 m) |
| Draft | 12 ft 5 in (3.78 m) |
| Speed | 14.5 knots (26.9 km/h; 16.7 mph) |
| Complement | 48 |
| Armament |
|
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The USS Alabaster (PYc-21) was a coastal patrol yacht of the United States Navy during World War II.
The ship was built in 1932 by the Mathis Yacht Building Co. of Camden, New Jersey, as the yacht Alamo as confirmed by the oval shipbuilder's plate affixed in the upper access portion of its engine room. Alamo was designed by Tams, Incorporated for William F. Ladd with a cruising radius of 4,000 mi (6,400 km) and a fresh water capacity of 5,500 US gal (21,000 L; 4,600 imp gal). A pair of Winton diesel engines of 375 horsepower each and two 15 kW Winton diesel generators provided propulsive and electrical power. A speed of 14.5 knots (16.7 mph; 26.9 km/h) was achieved in trials. The hull construction made extensive use of welding. Before Navy acquisition the yacht, Mathis hull #214, official number 231388, had been named Rellimpa, Ranley, and Ronaele.
The yacht was donated to the U.S. Navy on 3 January 1942, by Eleanor Widener Dixon. It was renamed Alabaster on 13 January 1942 and simultaneously classified a coastal patrol yacht and designated PYc-21. Converted by the Philadelphia Navy Yard for naval service, it was commissioned on 31 January 1942.