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USS Moonstone (PYc-9)
Encyclopedia
USS Moonstone (PYc-9) was a coastal patrol yacht
in the service of the United States Navy
. She was built in 1929 as Nancy Baker by Germaniawerft in Kiel
, Germany
, later renamed Mona, and subsequently acquired by the Navy as the Lone Star on February 10, 1941. Renamed Moonstone and designated PYc-9, she was converted for Navy service in Jacksonville, Florida, and commissioned on April 10, 1941. She was named for the gemstone
moonstone
.
On May 2, 1941 Moonstone sailed for patrol duty with the Panama
nian Sea Frontier. She later sailed to Ecuador
on January 2, 1943 to aid in training that country's navy. In March 1943 she sailed to Charleston, South Carolina
to prepare for permanent transfer to Ecuador. On her return at Balboa
, Panama in July 1943, cracks were discovered in the cylinder blocks of her engine, and she was sent north for repairs. On October 16, 1943, off the mouth of Indian River
, Delaware Capes , she collided with USS Greer
and sank immediately. All but one of Moonstone's complement survived. She was struck from the Naval Register on October 26, 1943.
Her wreck lies 35 miles (56 km) southeast of Cape May, New Jersey
, in 130 feet (39.6 m) of water.
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...
in the service of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. She was built in 1929 as Nancy Baker by Germaniawerft in Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, later renamed Mona, and subsequently acquired by the Navy as the Lone Star on February 10, 1941. Renamed Moonstone and designated PYc-9, she was converted for Navy service in Jacksonville, Florida, and commissioned on April 10, 1941. She was named for the gemstone
Gemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
moonstone
Moonstone (gemstone)
Moonstone is a sodium potassium aluminium silicate, with the chemical formula AlSi3O8.-Etymology:Its name is derived from a visual effect, or sheen, caused by light reflecting internally in the moonstone from layer inclusion of different feldspars....
.
On May 2, 1941 Moonstone sailed for patrol duty with the 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...
nian Sea Frontier. She later sailed to Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
on January 2, 1943 to aid in training that country's navy. In March 1943 she sailed to Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
to prepare for permanent transfer to Ecuador. On her return at Balboa
Balboa, Panama
Balboa is a district of Panama City, located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal.- History :The town of Balboa, founded by the United States during the construction of the Panama Canal, was named after Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the Spanish conquistador credited with discovering the Pacific Ocean...
, Panama in July 1943, cracks were discovered in the cylinder blocks of her engine, and she was sent north for repairs. On October 16, 1943, off the mouth of Indian River
Indian River (Delaware)
The Indian River is a river and estuary, approximately 15 mi long, in Sussex County in southern Delaware in the United States....
, Delaware Capes , she collided with USS Greer
USS Greer (DD-145)
USS Greer was a Wickes class destroyer in the United States Navy, the first ship named for Rear Admiral James A. Greer . In what became known as the "Greer Incident," she became the first U.S. Navy ship to fire on a German ship, three months before the United States officially entered World War...
and sank immediately. All but one of Moonstone's complement survived. She was struck from the Naval Register on October 26, 1943.
Her wreck lies 35 miles (56 km) southeast of Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May is a city at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States...
, in 130 feet (39.6 m) of water.