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Submarine Chaser Photo Archive

Impetuous (PYc 46)



Impetuous call sign:
Nan - Yoke - Foxtrot - Charlie

ex-PC-454
ex-Sybilla III (SP 104)



Sybilla III civilian call sign (1919):
Love - Fox - Jig - Boy
Patrol Yacht/Submarine Chaser/Coastal Patrol Yacht:

  • Built in 1915 as the yacht Paragon by Robert Jacob Inc., City Island, New York
  • Renamed Sybilla III
  • Acquired by the Navy 14 May 1917 and commissioned USS Sybilla III (SP 104) the same day
  • Struck from the Navy Register 24 December 1918 and returned to her owner, John F. Bettz of Philadelphia, PA
  • Renamed Arlis
  • Acquired by the Navy a second time 12 August 1940
  • Commissioned USS PC-454, 16 October 1940
  • Reclassified as a Coastal Patrol Yacht, PYc-46, 15 July 1943 and named Impetuous
  • Decommissioned 27 September 1944 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Struck from the Naval Register 14 October 1944 and transferred to the War Shipping Administration for disposal
  • Sold 14 June 1945
  • Fate unknown.
    Specifications:

  • Displacement 103 t.
  • Length 120'
  • Beam 14' 6"
    1940 - 16'
  • Draft 4' 8"
    1940 6'
  • Speed 15 kts.
    1940 - 16 kts.
  • Complement: Three (1918)
  • Armament: One 3-pounder, one 1-pounder and one machine guns
    1940 - Six .30 cal. machine guns
  • Propulsion: Two 200hp 6-cylinder Winton gasoline engines, two shafts
    1940 - Two 600bhp diesel engines.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    M/V Paragon
    Impetuous 103k Paragon
    Courtesy of the City Island Nautical Museum    		 Tom Nye
    M/V Sybilla III
    Sybilla III 62k Sybilla III photographed prior to her World War I Navy service
    U.S. Navy photo NH 102244    		 Naval Historical Center
    Sybilla III 65k View of Sybilla III's starboard side, amidships, taken prior to her World War I Navy service
    U.S. Navy photo NH 102245
    Sybilla III 67k Sybilla III in harbor, dressed with flags, prior to her World War I Navy service
    U.S. Navy photo NH 102246
    USS Sybilla III (SP 104)
    Sybilla III 78k Sybilla III (SP 104) photographed during World War I
    U.S. Navy photo NH 55614    		 Naval Historical Center
    Sybilla III 194k Hauled out for repairs, in a Delaware River area boat yard, circa 1917-1918
    Copied from the Donald R. Cochran album (Lot S-591), page 3
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2010
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 107065    		 Robert Hurst
    M/V Sybilla III
    Impetuous 76k Sybilla III photographed prior to or after her World War I Navy service. The chevron on her forward stack may indicate a post-war dat.
    U.S. Navy photo NH 55613    		 Naval Historical Center
    USS PC-454
    PC-454 54k U.S. Navy photo
    Commanding Officers
    01LT J. F. Betts, III, USNRF1918
    02LT H. C. Raymond, USNR1940
    Courtesy Joe Radigan
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships History:

    Sybilla III (SP-104), a motor yacht built in 1915 as Paragon by Robert Jacob, City Island, N.Y., was acquired by the Navy from John F. Bettz, Philadelphia, Pa., and was commissioned on 14 May 1917.

    Sybilla III was assigned to section patrol duty in the 7th Naval District. She was returned to her owner and struck from the Navy list on 24 December 1918.

    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships History:

    Impetuous

    Moving with great force or violence.

    The patrol yacht Arlis was built in 1915 by Robert Jacob Inc., City Island, N.Y.; acquired by the Navy 12 August 1940 ; and commissioned as PC-454 16 October 1940.

    Assigned to the 15th Naval District, PC-454 arrived Canal Zone in mid-November 1940, to patrol the approaches to the Panama Canal. From November 1940 to August 1944, she performed escort and patrol operations off Central America while on constant vigil for enemy submarines. PC-454 was named Impetuous and reclassified PYc-46 15 July 1943. On 31 August 1944, the patrol yacht arrived Philadelphia and decommissioned there 27 September. Impetuous was struck from the Navy List 14 October, and sold by WSA 14 June 1945.

    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Patrol Craft Sailors Association
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