USS ''Amethyst'' (PYc-3) was the yacht ''Samona II'' taken into service in the United States Navy serving as a patrol boat during World War II. After military service the vessel was returned to civilian status in 1946 and again became the yacht ''Samona II'' until sale and subsequent names of ''Pudlo'' and ''Explorer''.

Yacht ''Samona II''

''Samona II'' was designed by Leslie Edward (Ted) Geary and built by Craig Shipbuilding Company, Long Beach, California for

Willitts J. Hole Willits J. Hole (October 9, 1858 – December 17, 1936) was an American businessman and real estate developer of Southern California, during the early part of the twentieth century. He was known as the "father" of the city of La Habra, Californi ...

, a prominent financier of Los Angeles, California as hull number 154 with keel laid 15 March 1931, launch on 25 June and maiden voyage on 31 July 1931. The yacht was in length, beam with a draft of ( Navy) powered by two Winton diesel engines driving two screws. With of fuel the yacht's range was estimated as at or at . Fresh water capacity was . The design included five double staterooms with connecting baths and a large owner's stateroom. Hole was an avid fisherman who contributed to scientific collections so the yacht carried fishing boats as well as of gasoline for them in special isolated tanks. On 1 August 1931, the day after leaving the yard on delivery, ''Samona II'' departed on a shakedown trip to Alaska. On 9 November 1931 the yacht was on the way via the Panama Canal to the east coast of South America where, after a time exploring the Amazon and Rio Negro rivers, a course was followed through the

Strait of Magellan The Strait of Magellan (), also called the Straits of Magellan, is a navigable sea route in southern Chile separating mainland South America to the north and Tierra del Fuego to the south. The strait is considered the most important natural pass ...

and up the west coast of South America to Los Angeles. Willitts Hole died in 1936 and his estate, including the Willitts J. Hole Art Collection, passed eventually to his daughter Agnes Hole Rindge and son-in-law Samuel K. Rindge. The Rindges continued the yacht's collecting tradition after Hole's death into 1939.

World War II service

''Samona II'' was purchased by the Navy on 4 November 1940, from Samuel K. Rindge of Los Angeles. The yacht was converted for naval service by Craig Shipbuilding; and commissioned on 27 February 1941.

US Navy service

The ship was assigned to the Inshore Patrol,

11th Naval District The naval district was a U.S. Navy military and administrative command ashore. Apart from Naval District Washington, the Districts were disestablished and renamed Navy Regions about 1999, and are now under Commander, Naval Installations Command ...

, and helped to patrol the entrance to Los Angeles Harbor. After the United States entered the war, the yacht expanded her role to include escorting vessels and convoys as well as carrying local passenger traffic. On 1 April 1943, ''Amethyst'' was attached to the Surface Task Group, Southern Section, San Pedro, California, and continued her patrol duties off the southern California coast through January 1944. She was decommissioned on 2 February 1944.

US Coast Guard service

Placed back in commission on 19 April 1944 and manned by a Coast Guard crew, ''Amethyst'' reported to the Western Sea Frontier section base at Treasure Island, California. Through the end of 1945, the ship maintained plane guard station, collected weather data, and carried out antisubmarine and antiaircraft coastal patrols. ''Amethyst'' was decommissioned at San Diego, California, on 27 February 1946. Her name was struck from the Navy List on 12 March. She was transferred on 11 September to the Maritime Commission for disposal.

Post war

She was subsequently sold back to Samuel K. Rindge and resumed the name ''Samona II'' and served as a yacht. Purchased in the early 1950s by David P. Hamilton of Shreveport, Louisiana, she served him under the name ''Pudlo'' until sold in 1962 to Clarene Y. Martin of Houston, Texas, and renamed ''Explorer''. As of 2000, she was still reported to be in use along the Gulf Coast.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Amethyst (PYc-3) Patrol vessels of the United States Navy Patrol vessels of the United States Coast Guard Patrol vessels of the United States World War II patrol vessels of the United States Coast Guard World War II patrol vessels of the United States 1931 ships