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Cythera (PY 31)



Call sign:
November - Bravo - Whiskey - Papa


Cythera served the Navies of the United States and Israel.

Patrol Yacht: Built in 1931 as Abril by the Germania Werft, Kiel, Germany; Purchased by the Navy, 14 July 1942; Commissioned USS Cythera (PY 31), 26 October 1942; Decommissioned and placed in service, 3 January 1944; Placed out of service, 14 March 1946; Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 6 November 1946; Purchased and converted into a blockade runner; Renamed Ben Hecht and used for bringing about 600 refugees to then British controlled Palestine; Intercepted on the high seas 12 March 1946 by HMS Chieftan (R 32) and towed into Haifa; Converted into an Israeli Navy gunship in September 1948 and renamed INS Maoz (K 24); She was retired after the Suez/Sinai campaign in 1956. Fate unknown.

Specifications: Displacement 800 t.; Length 205' 7"; Beam 30'; Draft 10' 10"; Speed 15 kts; Complement 74; Armament one 3"; Propulsion diesel.


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