USS Adroit (SP-248) was a steam yacht brought into the United States Navy, but never commissioned.

USS Adroit, USN Special Patrol 248
History
United States
Name
  • Winchester (1907–1916)
  • Adroit (1916–1928)
  • Aera (1928–)
Owner
  • Peter W. Rouss (original owner)
  • F. H. McAdoo (owner at time of acquisition)
BuilderRobert Jacob Shipyard, City Island, Bronx, New York
Launched1907
FateAcquired by the USN in 1917
History
United States
NameAdroit
Acquired1917
FateReturned to owner 30 April 1918
General characteristics
TypeYacht
Displacement147 long tons (149 t)
Length141 ft (43 m)
Beam15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
Draft5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Speed17.5 kn (32.4 km/h; 20.1 mph)
Complement23

Service history edit

Adroit was built as Winchester at City Island, New York in 1907 by the Robert Jacobs Shipyard.[1] The first of a series of fast yachts of that name, her owner replaced her with a larger vessel after several years.[citation needed] She was sold and renamed Adroit in about 1916. She was acquired by the Navy in April 1917 from Mr. F. H. McAdoo of New York City.[1]

After she had begun fitting out under the direction of Lt. H. B. Peschau, NNV, Adroit was found to be highly unseaworthy and of extremely short cruising range. Consequently, she was never commissioned and was returned to her owner on 30 April 1918. Presumably, her name—which had appeared on the Navy list— was stricken from that list soon thereafter.[1]

Her subsequent career as a pleasure craft extended for more than another two decades. She was renamed Aera in 1928 and remained listed in yachting registers until the early 1940s.[citation needed]

Notes edit

Bibliography edit

  • Winchester American Steam Yacht, 1907
  • "Adroit I (Yacht)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.