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: Returned to owners 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 steam turbines, two shafts
Speed: 31.65 knots (58.62 km/h; 36.42 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.

Construction, acquisition, and commissioning

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 U.S. Navy acquired her from her owner, Mr. Peter W. Rouss, on 30 May 1917 for use as a patrol vessel during World War I. She was commissioned on 4 September 1917 as USS Winchester (SP-156) with Lieutenant, junior grade, R. C. Nickerson, USNRF, in command.

United States Navy service, 1917-1919

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, then to Russell A. Alger, Jr., and then to Cornelius Vanderbilt III. She later was sold to B. P. McCurdy, this latter time being rechristened the SS Renard.

Royal Canadian Navy, 1940-44

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.[1] 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.[2]

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.[2]

In 1944, Renard was surveyed and was found not worth repairing and was paid off on 1 August. In 1945 she was sold and was derelict at Sydney, Nova Scotia in 1955.[2]

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Macpherson & Barrie, p.204
  2. 1 2 3 Macpherson & Barrie, p.210
References
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