USS Phenakite

Steam yacht Celt prior to World War I
History
United States
NameCelt
OwnerJ. Rogers Maxwell
BuilderPusey and Jones, Wilmington, Delaware
Launched12 April 1902
Fatetransferred to USN 3 July 1917
United States
NameUSS Sachem
Acquired3 July 1917
Commissioned19 August 1917
IdentificationSP-192
Fatetransferred back to owner 10 February 1919
United States
OwnerManton B. Metcalf
Acquired10 February 1919
FateSold to Jacob "Jake" Martin and converted to a fishing boat 1932
United States
OwnerJacob "Jake" Martin
Acquired1932
Fatereacquired by the Navy 17 February 1942 for $65,000 and converted for Naval service at Robert Jacobs Inc., City Island, New York
United States
NameUSS Phenakite
Cost$65,000
Acquired17 February 1942
Commissioned1 July 1942 at Tompkinsville, New York
Decommissioned17 November 1944
IdentificationPYc-25
Fatetransferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal 5 November 1945
United States
NameUSS Phenakite
OwnerMaritime Commission
Acquired5 November 1945
IdentificationPYc-25
Fatereturned to her original owner, Mr. J. Martin of Brooklyn, New York, and renamed Sachem on 29 December 1945
United States
NameSachem
OwnerJ. Martin
Acquired29 December 1945
FateSubsequently resold to the Circle Line of New York City and renamed Sightseer
United States
NameSightseer
OwnerCircle Line of New York City
Fate
  • Renamed Circle Line V
  • Reportedly scrapped in 1984
  • Found abandoned outside of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River
  • Presently under the custody of the D'Andrea LaRosa Art Foundation.
General characteristics
Displacement
  • 317 long tons (322 t)
  • 360 long tons (370 t) (1942)
Length
  • 186 ft 3 in (56.77 m)
  • 183 ft (56 m) (1942)
Beam22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
Draft
  • 8 ft (2.4 m)
  • 9 ft 7 in (2.92 m) (1942)
Installed power
  • 1,200 shp (890 kW)
  • 805 shp (600 kW) (1936)
Propulsion
  • vertical triple-expansion steam engine, one shaft
  • 7-cylinder Fairbanks-Morse 37D 14 diesel engine (1936)
Speed
  • 15 kn (17 mph; 28 km/h)
  • 13.5 kn (15.5 mph; 25.0 km/h) (1942)
Armament

USS Phenakite (PYc-25) was a converted yacht that was used by the United States Navy during World War I and World War II. The vessel was also known as Celt, Sachem (SP-192), Sightseer and Circle Line V.