USS ''Sylph'' (PY-12), briefly YP-71, was a yacht in commission in the United States Navy as a patrol yacht from 1940 to 1946.

Construction, acquisition, and commissioning

''Intrepid'' (YP-71), a yacht built in 1929 at

Neponset, Massachusetts Neponset is a district in the southeast corner of Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing s ...

, by George Lawley & Son, was acquired by the Navy on 16 July 1940. She was renamed ''Sylph'' and redesignated PY-12 three days later. After conversion in New York City by the Sullivan Drydock and Repair Corporation, she was commissioned on 1 October 1940.

Service history

After commissioning, she remained at New York, assigned to the

3d 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 Comman ...

to train reserve midshipmen. Soon after America's entry into World War II, ''Sylph'' was fitted with sound gear and depth charges and assigned to

Tompkinsville, New York Tompkinsville is a neighborhood in northeastern Staten Island in New York City. Named for Daniel D. Tompkins, sixth Vice President of the United States (1817-1825), the neighborhood sits on the island's eastern shore, along the waterfront facing U ...

, to help patrol for

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

U-boats. On 10 February 1942, she was reassigned to New London, Connecticut, whence she continued to hunt for submarines. While at New London, ''Sylph'' also helped periodically to train

sonarmen Sonar technician (abbreviated as ST) is a United States Navy occupational rating. STs are responsible for underwater surveillance. They assist in safe navigation and aid in search, rescue and attack operations. They operate and repair sonar equip ...

, a critical personnel need in the

Battle of the Atlantic The Battle of the Atlantic, the longest continuous military campaign in World War II, ran from 1939 to the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, covering a major part of the naval history of World War II. At its core was the Allied naval blockade ...

. Future Hollywood actor Ernest Borgnine served as a U.S. Navy gunner's mate aboard ''Sylph'' during its

antisubmarine warfare Anti-submarine warfare (ASW, or in older form A/S) is a branch of underwater warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, submarines, or other platforms, to find, track, and deter, damage, or destroy enemy submarines. Such operations are typic ...

patrols of the North Atlantic. In the fall of 1943, ''Sylph'' ceased to patrol for submarines. Assigned to

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, she gave her full attention to training sonarmen and to the development of equipment and techniques for finding and sinking submarines. In October 1944, ''Sylph'' and her unit, the Surface Division of the Atlantic Fleet's Antisubmarine Development Detachment, shifted base to

Port Everglades, Florida Port Everglades is a seaport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, located in Broward County. Port Everglades is one of South Florida's foremost economic engines, as it is the gateway for both international trade and cruise vacations. In 2019, Port Eve ...

. She continued to train sonarmen there and assisted in the antisubmarine warfare research effort through the end of World War II. In September 1945, ''Sylph'' was ordered to the Commandant, 6th Naval District, at

Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, the county seat of Charleston County, and the principal city in the Charleston–North Charleston metropolitan area. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint o ...

. She arrived at Charleston on 8 November and was decommissioned on 19 December. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 8 January 1946, and her hulk was sold by the War Shipping Administration on 31 December 1946.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sylph (PY-12) Patrol vessels of the United States Navy World War II patrol vessels of the United States Ships built in Boston 1929 ships