USS Coral

USS Coral (PY-15), previously USS Sialia (SP-543), was a yacht in commission in the United States Navy as a Patrol Yacht from 1940 to 1943.

Steam Yacht Sialia, underway prior to her World War I Navy service.
History
United States
Name	Sialia (1914–1920)
Namesake	Bluebird
Owner	John K. Stewart
Builder	Pusey and Jones, Wilmington, Delaware
Laid down	1914
Completed	1914
Notes	sold to Henry Ford, 1917
History
United States
Acquired	10 June 1917
Commissioned	30 June 1917
Identification	Hull symbol:SP-543 Code letters:GSPB
Notes	6 October 1919, Transferred to the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
In service	6 October 1919
Out of service	6 February 1920 6 February 1920, Returned to U.S. Navy custody
Notes	Sold 13 April 1920
History
Acquired	13 April 1920
Renamed	American Clipper
Refit	1925, American Ship Building Company
Notes	Sold in 1927
Owner	A. N. Andrews Investment Corp. of New York, NY
Acquired	1927
Notes	Sold in 1935
Owner	Evan Jones of New York
Acquired	1935
Notes	Sold in 1937
Owner	Eleanor V. Andrews of Greenwich, CT
Acquired	1937
Notes	Sold in 1939
Owner	Milton C. Jackson of Philadelphia, PA
Acquired	1939
Notes	Sold in 1939
Owner	Clipper Lines, Inc. of Philadelphia (Milton C. Jackson, Treasurer)
Acquired	1939
Notes	Sold to the US Navy 25 November 1940
History
United States
Name	Coral
Namesake	Coral
Acquired	25 November 1940
Commissioned	27 February 1941
Decommissioned	12 August 1943
Commissioned	27 August 1943
Decommissioned	10 September 1943
Identification	Hull symbol:PY-15
Fate	Sold 15 July 1947
General characteristics
Type	Yacht (1914–1917), (1920–1940) Section Patrol (1917–1920) Patrol Yacht (1940–1943)
Displacement	558 long tons (567 t) 790 long tons (803 t) (1925)
Length	207 ft (63 m) 214 ft (65 m) (1925)
Beam	27 ft (8.2 m) 26 ft 7 in (8.10 m)
Draft	11 ft 3 in (3.43 m) 13 ft (4.0 m)
Installed power	2 × diesel engine 1,500 shp (1,100 kW) (1925)
Propulsion	2 × screw
Speed	14.5 knots (26.9 km/h; 16.7 mph) 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) (1925)
Complement	61
Armament	2 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 caliber guns 2 × .30-caliber (7.62-millimeter) Lewis machine guns (removed 1941)

Construction, acquisition, and commissioning

Coral (PY-15) was built in 1913 by Pusey and Jones, Wilmington, Delaware. It served during World War I as USS Sialia (SP-543). She was re-acquired by the Navy 25 November 1940 and commissioned 27 February 1941.

Service history

Coral made two Naval Reserve cruises from Philadelphia during June 1941, then sailed 30 August for Newport and inshore patrol duty until 8 October. After training at Guantanamo Bay, she served at Key West, Florida with Service Squadron 9 until decommissioned 12 August 1943. Recommissioned 27 August to escort a convoy to Norfolk, she arrived 6 September, and was again decommissioned 10 September 1943. Coral was sold 15 July 1947.

References

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links

• Photo gallery of USS Coral (PY-15) at NavSource Naval History