USS Sturdy (PC-460)
Encyclopedia
USS Sturdy (PC-460/PYc-50) was an Sturdy-class patrol boat
acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of patrolling the coastal waters of the U.S. East Coast during World War II
. Her primary task was to guard the coastal area against German submarines.
The second ship to be named Sturdy by the Navy, ex-Elda was built in 1930 by the Consolidated Shipbuilding Corp., Morris Heights, Bronx
, New York
. The yacht
was purchased from Mr. Arthur Davis of New York City
on 4 September 1940 and converted for Navy use by the New York Navy Yard. She was commissioned as PC-460 on 16 October 1940.
for patrol duty and arrived there on 13 November 1940. On 24 January 1942 PC-460 mistook submarine USS S-26 (SS-131)
at night for a German U-boat. PC-460 rammed and sank her in the Gulf of Panama, with the loss of 46 men. Three men in S-26's conning tower survived - the captain, his executive officer and a look-out. On 10 February 1942, she was assigned to the Panama Sea Frontier
. On 31 January 1943, she sailed to Mobile, Alabama
, for extensive repairs after which she returned to Panama
. On 15 July 1943, she was named Sturdy and redesignated PYc-50.
Sturdy steamed to Key West, Florida
, for repairs and an overhaul in October 1944. She was under repair on the 29th when it was decided that she should be disposed of and all work was ordered stopped. Sturdy was transferred to the 7th Naval District for disposition.
on 27 November 1944.
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of patrolling the coastal waters of the U.S. East Coast during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Her primary task was to guard the coastal area against German submarines.
The second ship to be named Sturdy by the Navy, ex-Elda was built in 1930 by the Consolidated Shipbuilding Corp., Morris Heights, Bronx
Morris Heights, Bronx
Morris Heights is a low income residential neighborhood located in the west Bronx. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 5. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise are: West Burnside Avenue to the north, Jerome Avenue to the east, the Cross-Bronx Expressway to the...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
was purchased from Mr. Arthur Davis of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on 4 September 1940 and converted for Navy use by the New York Navy Yard. She was commissioned as PC-460 on 16 October 1940.
World War II service
PC-460 was assigned to the Panama Canal ZonePanama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
for patrol duty and arrived there on 13 November 1940. On 24 January 1942 PC-460 mistook submarine USS S-26 (SS-131)
USS S-26 (SS-131)
USS S-26 was an S-class submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down on 7 November 1919 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation of Quincy, Massachusetts. She launched on 22 August 1922 sponsored by Mrs. Carlos Bean, and commissioned on 15 October 1923 with Lieutenant Edmund W...
at night for a German U-boat. PC-460 rammed and sank her in the Gulf of Panama, with the loss of 46 men. Three men in S-26's conning tower survived - the captain, his executive officer and a look-out. On 10 February 1942, she was assigned to the Panama Sea Frontier
Panama Sea Frontier
The Panama Sea Frontier was responsible, during World War II, for the defense of the Pacific and Atlantic sea approaches to the Panama Canal and for naval shore facilities in the Central America region...
. On 31 January 1943, she sailed to Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, for extensive repairs after which she returned to Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. On 15 July 1943, she was named Sturdy and redesignated PYc-50.
Sturdy steamed to Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
, for repairs and an overhaul in October 1944. She was under repair on the 29th when it was decided that she should be disposed of and all work was ordered stopped. Sturdy was transferred to the 7th Naval District for disposition.
End-of-war decommissioning
Sturdy was decommissioned on 20 November 1944 and struck from the Navy listNavy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
on 27 November 1944.
External links
- Photo gallery at navsource.org