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Submarine Chaser Photo Archive

Sybilla III (SP 104)
PC-454
Impetuous (PYc 46)



Impetuous call sign:
November - Yankee - Foxtrot - Charlie

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

Sybilla III Specifications: Displacement 103 t; Length 120'; Beam 14' 6"; Draft 4' 8"; Speed 15 kts.; Complement nine; Armament one 3-pounder, one 1-pounder and one machine guns; Propulsion diesel, two shafts.
PC-454 / Impetuous Specifications: Displacement 103 t; Length 120'; Beam 16'; Draft 6'; Speed 16 kts.; Complement unknown; Armament six .30 cal. machine guns; Propulsion two 600bhp diesel engines, two shafts.


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For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Source
Impetuous 103k Paragon
Courtesy of the City Island Nautical Museum
Tom Nye
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
Naval Historical Center
Sybilla III 67k Sybilla III's in harbor, dressed with flags, prior to her World War I
Navy service.
U.S. Navy Photo NH 102245
Naval Historical Center
Sybilla III 78k Sybilla III (SP 104) photographed during World War I.
U.S. Navy Photo NH 55614
Naval Historical Center
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 date.
U.S. Navy Photo NH 55613
Naval Historical Center

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.


Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Patrol Craft Sailors Association
Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Patrol Craft/Gunboat/Submarine Chaser Ship Type Index Back to the Section Patrol Craft (SP) Photo Index Back to the Submarine Chaser (PC) Photo Index Back to the Coastal Patrol Yacht (PYc) Photo Index

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