USS Hilo

Last updated

USS Hilo (AGP-2) at anchor off Mios Woendi island, Dutch New Guinea, on 8 September 1944 (80-G-258698).jpg
USS Hilo
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
Name
  • Caroline
  • Moana
  • Hilo
Namesake Hilo, Hawaii
Orderedas Caroline
BuilderBath Iron Works
Yard number141
Laid down1 September 1930
Launched18 July 1931
Completed28 September 1931 (delivered)
Acquired28 November 1941
Commissioned11 June 1942
Decommissioned3 March 1946
Strickendate unknown
Identification
  • official number 231135
  • Signal & radio call letters WDEC
FateScrapped 1958
General characteristics
Type
Tonnage1,839  GRT
Displacement2,350 long tons (2,390 t)
Length278 ft 11 in (85.01 m)
Beam38 ft 3 in (11.66 m)
Draft17 ft (5.2 m)
Depth22.7 ft (6.9 m)
Installed powerelectrical: 2 150 kw, 1 50 kw Diesel electric generators
Propulsion2 Cooper-Bessemer 1,500 horsepower diesel engines, 2 screws
Speed14  kn (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Range25,000 nautical miles (29,000 mi; 46,000 km)
Complement
  • 42 crew as yacht
  • 116 (Navy)
Armament1 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 cal dual purpose gun

USS Hilo (AGP-2) was a converted yacht that saw service as a motor torpedo boat tender in the United States Navy during World War II. It was originally the yacht Caroline built for Eldridge R. Johnson and launched 18 July 1931. Caroline was at the time the second largest yacht and largest American built Diesel yacht. It was built with a laboratory as well as palatial quarters and was loaned and equipped by Johnson for the Johnson-Smithsonian Deep-Sea Expedition of 1933 that explored the Puerto Rico Trench. The yacht was sold in 1938 to William B. Leeds and renamed Moana replacing an earlier Leeds yacht of the same name.

Contents

It was purchased by the US Navy in 1941 and commissioned as USS Hilo, first designated as Patrol Gunboat (PG) 58 and then functioning and designated as Motor Torpedo Boat Tender (AGP) 2 supporting the torpedo boats for the duration of World War II.

Yacht Caroline

Caroline was built in 1931 by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine at a cost of 1.5 million dollars for the Victor Talking Machine Company founder Eldridge R. Johnson. The yacht's keel was laid 1 September 1930 as Bath's hull number 141 with launch on 18 July 1931 and delivery to the owner on 28 September 1931. [1] The yacht, replacing a smaller yacht of the same name, was named for Johnson's mother, Caroline Reeves Johnson, and christened by his grand niece, Caroline Fenimore Fitler, also named for his mother. [2] On registration Caroline was assigned official number 231135 and the signal and radio call letters WDEC. [3]

Description

The yacht was designed by Henry J. Gielow's company with unusually large owner's quarters, extending the full width amidships with two baths, seven guest staterooms, quarters for two maids and two valets, and a crew of forty. [4] The guest staterooms, all with private bath, were aft with those on port and starboard sides connected by 7 ft (2.1 m) sliding doors enabling them to be connected into larger suites. On the main deck was a 36 ft (11.0 m) by 26 ft (7.9 m) living room with a fireplace forward. Aft was a partially sheltered deck with a lobby and elevator connecting the owner's quarters below and a laboratory on the deck above on the upper deck. Aft of that were a smoking room and 29 ft (8.8 m) by 26 ft (7.9 m) dining room with a dressing room and shower for owner and guests, quarters for the chief engineer, dining room for the maids and galley between smoking room and dining room. Captain and radio operators had quarters on the upper deck where there was also a radio room and a lounge and observation room as well as the laboratory. The pilot house and chart room occupied the bridge deck. [4]

Caroline had a 235 ft (71.6 m) waterline length with 278 ft 11 in (85.0 m) length overall, 38 ft (11.6 m) beam, draft of 15 ft (4.6 m) (Navy 17 ft (5.2 m)) and displacement tonnage of 2,350. [4] [5] Registry information showed 1,839  GRT, 247.3 ft (75.4 m) length, 38.2 ft (11.6 m) breadth and depth of 22.7 ft (6.9 m) with a crew of forty-two. [3] She was the largest Diesel powered yacht built in America and the second largest private yacht in America at that time. [4] [6]

Power was provided by two Cooper-Bessemer 1,500-horsepower diesel engines driving two screws with a maximum speed of 14 knots. Fuel capacity was sufficient for a cruising range of 25,000 nautical miles (29,000 mi; 46,000 km). In addition the yacht had one of the largest Sperry Gyroscope Company gyroscopic-stabilizers built for a private vessel. [4] [5] The gyroscope wheel itself weighed 88,000 pounds (40,000 kg) spun by a 210-horsepower Diesel-electric motor at 13,000 revolutions a minute and taking one and a half hours to reach that maximum speed. The device was designed to counter five and a half degrees of roll. The total weight of the two engines and gyroscope was approximately 400,000 pounds (180,000 kg) [7] Two 150-kilowatt and one 50-kilowatt diesel–electric generating sets provided electrical power. [8] A carbon dioxide fire extinguishing system was installed for fire protection. [9]

History

Johnson offered the use of the Caroline for scientific research including a 1932 archeological expedition to South America and Easter Island. [10] In October 1932 Johnson equipped and offered for use the yacht for what was expected to be a series of expeditions in cooperation with the Smithsonian Institution to be known as the Johnson-Smithsonian Deep-Sea Expedition. The first was to the Puerto Rico Trench embarking investigators from several disciplines and government agencies and institutions interested in oceanographic work. Those included the Naval Research Laboratory, Agriculture and Commerce Departments as well as The American Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Institution and the Oceanographic Institution of Woods Hole. [11]

The expedition, under the leadership of Dr. Paul Bartsch of the Smithsonian, sailed from New York on 21 January 1933. [11] In addition to the scientific party Johnson and his son, E. R. Fenimore Johnson who had helped prepare the yacht, and invited guest went with the expedition. [6] [11] [12] Aside from description and addition of new species to collections three lines of echo soundings were gathered across the trench with the Navy echo sounding device operated by US Navy seaman Thomas Townsend Brown and water samples were taken at various depths. [11] [13] E. R. Fenimore Johnson assisted with the sounding work and had his own interests in ocean research, equipping his own yacht, Elsie Fenimore for such work. [13] [14] Both he and Elsie Fenimore served in World War II in mine warfare work. [14] Further expeditions did not take place due to the economic depression and the European situation. [15]

Caroline was engaged in pleasure cruising as well as science. One example was a 1935 cruise in which Douglas Fairbanks and Lady Ashley and other film personalities, departing at Tahiti, were Johnson's guests aboard on a cruise in which the yacht continued to Suva, the Solomon Islands, Japan, China, and the East Indies before continuing to Southampton. [16] Johnson loved the Caroline and the Johnson Victrola Museum, Dover, Delaware, features a song written about the yacht played with 78-rpm records on authentic Victor Talking Machines. [17] [18]

By March 1937, with the earlier 171 ft (52.1 m)Caroline [note 1] being sold to Joseph M. Shenck of Los Angeles, Johnson chartered his later Caroline for the winter cruising season. [19]

Yacht Moana

In 1938 Caroline was advertised as Caroline II for sale and bought by William B. Leeds who named the yacht Moana, replacing a smaller yacht, 159.9 ft (48.7 m) (Official number 226065/KGCK), of the same name. [20] [21] [22] [23] [note 2]

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

Moana was purchased by the Navy on 28 November 1941 and converted to Navy use at Craig Shipbuilding, Long Beach, California, she commissioned as USS Hilo (PG-58) on 11 June 1942. One of the first ships to be used as a motor torpedo boat tender, Hilo departed Long Beach, California, to load supplies at San Diego, California on 19 June and sailed for Pearl Harbor on 28 June. [5]

The ship arrived Pearl Harbor on 5 July 1942, and was immediately sent to Palmyra Island to tend to torpedo boat squadron 1B (consisting of PT-21, PT-23, PT-25, and PT-26). Hilo remained in the vicinity fueling and providing supplies to the boats then under training until returning to Pearl Harbor again on 4 October. She was soon underway, however, steaming by way of Palmyra Island to Canton Island, where she arrived on 29 October. There she took on passengers and proceeded to Funafuti, arriving on 2 November 1942 with Squadron 1B. [5] [24]

Tending torpedo boats

The ship remained at Funafuti until 25 November, tending torpedo boats and engaging in rescue operations as American forces prepared for the coming assault on the Gilberts and Marshalls. On 12 November the Hilo and other units from Funafuti rescued Eddie Rickenbacker and the crewmen of a crashed B-17 after they were adrift at sea in rubber boats for 21-days. She next sailed for Noumea, New Caledonia, arriving on 2 December, and from there escorted four PT boats to Cairns, Queensland, where she moored on 11 December. [5]

Setting up her base in New Guinea

Hilo was then sent to set up the first torpedo boat base in New Guinea, at Milne Bay, arriving on 17 December. Commencing operations soon after their arrival, Hilo's boats contributed to the hard-fought Buna-Gona campaign in New Guinea as allied forces began their return to the Philippines. The boats fired at Japanese ashore, destroyed barges loaded with men and supplies, and even fought submarines in support of the troops ashore. On 13 January 1943, her designation was changed to AGP-2. [5]

In February 1943, Hilo explored the coast for a suitable advance PT boat base, and by the 28th had established one at Kana Kope. The torpedo boats stationed there with Hilo soon had a chance to fight, as Japanese efforts to reinforce their Lae and Salamaua garrisons led to the Battle of the Bismarck Sea from 2–4 March. The tender remained at Kana Kope until late April, when she began to move up the New Guinea coast to various anchorages. As Hilo's torpedo boats continued to take part in the successful New Guinea campaign, Hilo herself underwent many air raids and endured extremes of climate and disease before being relieved on 20 October. The tender sailed to Sydney, Australia, arriving on 13 November, and sailed again on 9 February 1944 for Milne Bay. [5]

Moving her base to New Britain

Hilo again took up her tending duties in the New Guinea area and was transferred to Talasea, New Britain on 26 March. She remained there until 4 June tending two squadrons of torpedo boats, after which she shifted her operations to Mios Woendi and became a command ship for torpedo boat operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet her tender equipment removed. The ship remained there until 6 November. [5]

Supporting PT-boat operations in the Philippines

With the invasion of the Philippines underway, Hilo sailed to Leyte Gulf, arriving on 12 November. During the next months the ships in the Gulf were under almost constant air attack. Hilo was nearly hit on 26 November as kamikaze attacked San Juanico Straits; one kamikaze crashed some 250 yd (230 m) ahead of the tender. Hilo's gunners scored several kills during this period. [5]

Commander, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons, 7th Fleet, shifted his flag to Cyrene on 16 January, and for the next nine months Hilo was occupied with passenger voyages to various islands, including Mios Woendi and the Palaus. She departed Samar on 26 October 1945 for the United States via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor. Hilo received four battle stars for service in World War II. [5]

Post-war decommissioning

Hilo arrived on 1 December and was decommissioned on 3 March 1946. [5] The ship entered the Suisun Bay National Defense Reserve Fleet on 30 June 1946 and was sold on 6 November 1947 by the United States Maritime Commission to Pillsbury & Martingnoni, San Francisco, California. [25] The ship was scrapped in 1958. [26]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ This yacht, official number 225885, was sold to quack John R. Brinkley of Del Rio, Texas, renamed Doctor Brinkley which was purchased by the Navy to serve during World War II as USS Jade (PY-17).
  2. ↑ On line references to celebrities such as Errol Flynn and Ernest Hemingway aboard Leeds' Moana predating 1938 refer to the smaller, earlier yacht. The same celebrities may be found in references to events after 1938 and those would be aboard ex-Caroline.

Sources

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-39</span>

The Sikorsky S-39 is an American light amphibious aircraft produced by Sikorsky Aircraft during the early 1930s. The S-39 was a smaller, single-engine version of the S-38.

USS John M. Howard (IX-75), previously the yacht Elsie Fenimore, was an unclassified miscellaneous vessel, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for John Martin Howard. Ensign Howard, USNR, had graduated from the third class at the Advanced Mine School, later Mine Disposal School, and been sent to England to observe and gain experience with Royal Navy and Royal Engineers in mine disarming and disposal. He had been the first Navy mine disposal person killed when, on 11 June 1942, he was observing Lcdr. Roy Berryman Edwards, RN, DSO, BEM defusing a German TMA-1 magnetic influence naval mine that detonated on Corton sands near Lowestoft. The detonation left nothing but scattered debris from sea to cliffs and two hundred yards in each direction along the beach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motor torpedo boat tender</span> Ship used to service fast patrol vessels during WWII and the Vietnam War

Motor torpedo boat tender is a type of ship used by the U.S. Navy during World War II and Vietnam War. The motor torpedo boat tender's task was to act as a tender in remote areas for patrol boats (PT-boats) and to provide the necessary fuel and provisions for the torpedo boats she was responsible for. The type finds its root in the torpedo boat tender, developed in the 19th century.

USS <i>Jamestown</i> (PG-55) Gunboat of the United States Navy

USS Jamestown (PG-55) was a patrol gunboat and after 13 January 1943 a Jamestown-class motor torpedo boat tender acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task in her final classification was to provide a "home base" for torpedo boats in remote parts of the ocean during the war, and to provide them with necessary services, such as fuel, food, and repairs.

USS <i>Portunus</i> (AGP-4) Tender of the United States Navy

USS Portunus (AGP-4) was an LST-1-class tank landing ship acquired by the U.S. Navy for use during World War II as a motor torpedo boat (MTB) tender. She was named after a Roman god of the sea, who had jurisdiction over ports and the shores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric Launch Company</span> US boat building and electric motor company

The Electric Launch Company, later renamed Elco Motor Yachts ("Elco"), is an American boat building and electric motor company that has operated from 1893 to 1949 and from 1987 to the present.

USS <i>Oyster Bay</i> Tender of the United States Navy

USS Oyster Bay (AGP-6), originally and later AVP-28, was a United States Navy motor torpedo boat tender in commission from 1943 to 1946. She saw service in World War II.

USS <i>Niagara</i> (PG-52) Gunboat of the United States Navy

The seventh USS Niagara (CMc-2/PG-52/AGP-1) was an auxiliary ship of the United States Navy during World War II.

USS <i>Zircon</i> Patrol vessel of the United States Navy

USS Zircon (PY-16) was the private yacht Nakhoda acquired by the United States Navy in 1940 serving as an armed yacht from 1941 to 1946. The yacht Nakhoda was built for automobile executive Frederick J. Fisher by Pusey and Jones Corporation, Wilmington, Delaware delivered in 1930. After the war the yacht was sold and reverted to the original name until sold in 1951 to the United New York Sandy Hook Pilots Association and renamed New York.

USS <i>Wachapreague</i> Tender of the United States Navy

USS Wachapreague (AGP-8) was a motor torpedo boat tender in commission in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946, seeing service in the latter part of World War II. After her Navy decommissioning, she was in commission in the United States Coast Guard from 1946 to 1972 as the cutter USCGC McCulloch (WAVP-386), later WHEC-386, the fourth ship of the U.S. Coast Guard or its predecessor, the United States Revenue Cutter Service, to bear the name. In 1972 she was transferred to South Vietnam and served in the Republic of Vietnam Navy as the frigate RVNS Ngô Quyền (HQ-17). Upon the collapse of South Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, she fled to the Philippines, and she served in the Philippine Navy from 1977 to 1985 as the frigate RPSGregorio del Pilar (PF-8) and from 1987 to 1990 as BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-12).

USS <i>Willoughby</i> (AGP-9) Tender of the United States Navy

The second USS Willoughby (AGP-9) was a motor torpedo boat tender that served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946, seeing service in the later stages of World War II. Transferred to the United States Coast Guard in 1946, she was in commission as the cutter USCGC Gresham (WAVP-387), later WHEC-387 and WAGW-387, from 1947 to 1969 and from 1970 to 1973, seeing service in the Vietnam War during her Coast Guard career.

USS <i>Orestes</i> Tender of the United States Navy

USS Orestes (AGP-10) was a motor torpedo boat tender that served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946.

USS <i>Varuna</i> (AGP-5) Motor torpedo boat tender during World War II

USS Varuna (AGP-5) was a Portunus-class motor torpedo boat tender of the United States Navy during World War II.

USS <i>Callisto</i> Tender of the United States Navy

USS Callisto (AGP-15) was a Portunus-class motor torpedo boat tender built for the United States Navy during World War II. It was originally ordered as USS LST-966 an LST-542-class tank landing ship, but renamed and re-designated in August 1944.

Huckins Yacht Corporation is one of the oldest boat builders in the United States. The company is located on the Ortega River in Jacksonville, Florida, and is run by its third-generation owners, Cindy and Buddy Purcell. Huckins manufactures custom yachts ranging from 40 to 90 feet that combine classic design and traditional workmanship with modern technology and amenities. It has built a total of 457 yachts during its 80 years of operation, crafting vessels one at a time.

USS <i>Acontius</i> Tender of the United States Navy


USS Acontius (AGP-12) was a motor torpedo boat tender in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1965.

USS <i>Alecto</i> Tender of the United States Navy

USS Alecto (AGP-14) was a Portunus-class motor torpedo boat tender built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was originally ordered as USS LST-977 an LST-542-class tank landing ship, but renamed and re-designated on 12 June 1944.

USS <i>Antigone</i> (AGP-16) Tender of the United States Navy

USS Antigone was a Portunus-class Motor Torpedo Boat Tender in service with the United States Navy during World War II. Authorized originally as LST-773, She was reclassified Motor Torpedo Boat Tender, and laid down the next day at Chicago Bridge & Iron Co., Seneca, IL. On 27 October 1944, she was launched, and put into reduced commission for conversion to a Motor Torpedo Boat Tender. On 5 December 1944, she was decommissioned for the conversion at Maryland Drydock Co., Baltimore, MD. 160 days later, on 14 May 1945, Antigone was put into full commission. After serving in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater for a year, Antigone was decommissioned on 27 May 1946, at San Francisco. On 10 June 1947, she was struck from the Naval Register, and sold to the Maritime Administration for final disposal on 6 February 1948 and simultaneously sold to Kaiser & Co., for scrapping.

USS <i>Chiron</i>

USS Chiron (AGP-18) was a Portunus-class motor torpedo boat tender which saw brief service with the United States Navy during and just after World War II. She then served as the Argentinian merchant ship MV Altamar until she sank in 1960.

USS <i>Jade</i> Patrol vessel of the United States Navy

USS Jade (PY-17), was a yacht in commission in the United States Navy as a Patrol Yacht from 1940 to 1945. The vessel was constructed as the yacht Athero II for Jesse Lauriston Livermore in 1926, then sold to Eldridge R. Johnson to be renamed Caroline until replaced by a much larger vessel, also named Caroline, in 1931. The smaller yacht was sold to Joseph M. Schenck of Los Angeles and New York, briefly, before being sold John R. Brinkley, M.D. of Del Rio, Texas, and renamed Doctor Brinkley. In 1940, the US Navy purchased her and renamed her Jade, after the ornamental mineral jade; she is the only Navy ship to bear this name.

References

  1. ↑ "Bath Iron Works". Pacific Marine Review. Vol. 28, no. 10. October 1931. p. 430. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  2. ↑ "Handsome Yacht Caroline Launches From Yard of Bath Iron Works Corp". Bath Independent (23 July 1931): 5. 1931. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  3. 1 2 Merchant Vessels of the United States, Year ended June 30, 1933. Washington, D.C.: Department of Commerce. 1933. p. 824. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Largest American Built Diesel Yacht". Pacific Marine Review. Vol. 28, no. 9. September 1931. p. 395. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Naval History And Heritage Command. "Hilo (PG-58) 1942–1946". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History And Heritage Command. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  6. 1 2 Paul Schatzkin, Defying Gravity: The Paraellel Universe of T. Townsend Brown, 2005-2006-2007-2008 – Tanglewood Books, Chapter 30 – The Caroline
  7. ↑ "Gyroscope for Yacht". Marine Review. Vol. 61, no. 1. January 1931. p. 44.
  8. ↑ "Cooper-Bessemer Engines Power the Majestic Caroline". Motor Boating. Vol. 48, no. 4. October 1931.
  9. ↑ "Gielow's Largest is LUX Equipped (Caroline profile photo)". Motor Boating. Vol. 48, no. 4. October 1931.
  10. ↑ "Expedition Sails", THE NEW YORK SUN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1932 – page 27
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Report of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution". Smithsonian Institution. 1933: 1, 6–7, 74. Retrieved 21 October 2018.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ↑ "Report of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution". Smithsonian Institution. 1934: 10. Retrieved 21 October 2018.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  13. 1 2 "Station Records of the First Johnson-Smithsonian Deep-Sea Expedition". Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections. 91 (1). Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution. 1934. Retrieved 21 October 2018.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  14. 1 2 Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries. "E.R. Fenimore Johnson photographs". Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  15. ↑ "Johnson-Smithsonian Deep-Sea Expedition to the Puerto Rico Trench, 1933". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  16. ↑ "Douglas Fairbanks at Fiji". The Argus (7 May 1935). Melbourne, Victoria: 11. 1935. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  17. ↑ "DNREC's First State Heritage Park to highlight transportation innovation Jan. 6". Cape Gazette (1 January 2018). Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  18. ↑ ""The Caroline" in Dover". Eventful. 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  19. ↑ "Gielow Reports Many Sales and Charters". Motor Boating. Vol. 49, no. 3. 1937. p. 115.
  20. ↑ "A Shipbuilder's Masterpiece of Beauty Comfort and Pleasure (advertisement with photos)". Motor Boating. Vol. 61, no. 5. May 1938. p. 137.
  21. ↑ Townsend, Reginald Townsend (September 1938). "A Shipbuilder's Masterpiece of Beauty Comfort and Pleasure (advertisement with photos)". Country Life & The Sportsman. No. September. p. 25.
  22. ↑ Barbin, Harold L. (2010). Beachheads secured : the history of patrol torpedo (PT) boats, their bases and tenderships of World War II (2 volumes). Vol. 2. Bloomington, Indiana: Xlibris. p. 789. ISBN   9781450008396. LCCN   2009912996.
  23. ↑ Merchant Vessels of the United States, Year ended June 30, 1936. Washington, D.C.: Department of Commerce. 1936. p. 912. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  24. ↑ Barbin, Harold L. (23 November 2010). Beachheads Secured Volume I: The History of Patrol Torpedo (PT) Boats, Their Bases, and Tenders of World War II June 1939-August 31, 1945. Xlibris Corporation. p. 400. ISBN   9781450003643.
  25. ↑ "Vessel Status Card". Maritime Administration. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  26. ↑ "Hilo (PG 58)". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.