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NavSource Online: Patrol Craft / Gunboat / Submarine Chaser Photo Archive

Alabaster (PYc-21)

Call sign:
Nan - Baker - William - Mike

Coastal Patrol Yacht: Built 1932 as the yacht Alamo by the Mathis Yacht Building Co., Camden, NJ; Renamed Rellimpa, Ranley and Ronaele before being acquired by the Navy, 3 January 1942; Renamed Alabaster 13 January 1942 and classified a Coastal Patrol Yacht and designated PYc--21; Converted for Naval service at Philadelphia Navy Yard; Commissioned USS Alabaster (PYc-21), 31 January 1942; Decommissioned, 17 December 1945 at San Pedro, CA; Struck from the Navy Register 21 January 1946; Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal; Sold by the Maritime Commission, 9 April 1947 to Lyman A. Whitney, San Diego, CA. This purchase was never completed. She was actually purchased by Col. C. S. Smith, USAR, Ret., who restored it as a private cruising yacht and renamed her Alamo in honor of his home city, San Antonio, Texas. It was featured in "Sea and Pacific Motor Boat" magazine and was the largest private yacht on the West Coast for many years. It was the actual setting for the No.1 rated television show in the 1960's, CBS's "Mr. Lucky" series, starring John Vivian, Ross Martin and Piper Laurie, music by Henry Mancini. Sold in 1960 to Enrique Braun of Acapulco, renamed Fiesta II and was a harbor cruise vessel until 1982. It was the founding vessel of a fleet of "Yates Fiesta" in Acapulco -- to this day one of the main attractions in Acapulco. In 1982 it was sold and towed to Puerto Vallarta to be converted to a floating restaurant. It burned and sank during conversion and its wreckage is now a popular scuba diving venue.

Specifications: Displacement 385 t.; Length 148' ; Beam 23'; Draft 8' 3";Speed 14.5k; Complement 48; Armament one 40mm gun mount, two .50 cal. machine guns, two depth charge tracks; Propulsion two Winton diesel engines, two shafts.

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Source
	83k	c. July 1945, USS Alabaster at anchor in San Pedro Bay, Philippine Islands while at Navy Yard for modification. The 3" bow gun and .50 cal. MG were replaced by 5-20 mm guns and 1-40 mm on the stern.		Vincent Balderston (ex-ChMoMM, USN) who served aboard Alabaster from January 25, 1942 until August 23, 1945. via Ralph L. Givens

View the Alabaster (PYc-21)
DANFS History entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.

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