USS Nourmahal

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USS Nourmahal circa 1943
History
United States
NameNourmahal
BuilderFriedrich Krupp Germaniawerft, Kiel
Launched1928
Out of serviceAcquired by the United States Coast Guard on 21 March 1940
History
United States
NameUSCGC Nourmahal
Acquired21 March 1940
Commissioned21 August 1940
Decommissioned30 May 1946
In serviceReturned to Coast Guard on 29 December 1943
Out of service
History
United States
NameUSS Nourmahal
Acquired
  • 3 March 1942
  • Transferred from the Coast Guard on 16 June 1943
Commissioned9 April 1943
In serviceReturned to the Navy in May 1947
Out of serviceReturned to the Coast Guard on 29/31 December 1943
Stricken12 January 1944
Fate
  • Up for disposal on 18 July 1948
  • Sold for scrap on 11 September 1964
General characteristics
TypeGunboat
Displacement
  • 2,250 long tons (2,290 t) (1941)
  • 3,200 long tons (3,300 t) (1945)
Length263 ft 10 in (80.42 m)
Beam41 ft 6 in (12.65 m)
Draft18 ft 5 in (5.61 m)
Propulsion
  • Two 3,200hp Sulzer Brothers 6-cylinder diesel engines
  • two shafts
Speed15 kn (17 mph; 28 km/h)
Complement
  • 107 (1941)
  • 111 (1945)
Armament
NotesCall sign NRMW [1]

USS Nourmahal (PG-72) was a gunboat used by the United States Coast Guard and United States Navy during the Second World War.

Construction[edit]

The Nourmahal was originally built as a yacht for multi-millionaire Vincent Astor in 1928 at Krupp Iron Works in Kiel, Germany. This was the third Astor family yacht to bear the name, replacing a smaller Nourmahal designed by Cox & Stevens, Inc. and built by Robert Jacob Shipyard, City Island NY., launched March, 1921.[2][3] Astor was the heir to a large New York real estate fortune after his father, John Jacob Astor IV, died aboard the RMS Titanic in 1912.

Second World War[edit]

With the outbreak of the Second World War, Nourmahal was acquired by the Coast Guard on 21 March 1940 and was commissioned USCGC Nourmahal (WPG-72) on 21 August 1940. Nourmahal was acquired 3 March 1942 by the Navy from Astor under a bareboat charter agreement under which the vessel was to be operated by the Coast Guard under Navy ownership.[4] Nourmahal was designated (PG-72) 9 April 1943 and purchased by the Navy for $1,000,000 under an option of the charter on 25 June 1943 (29 June in DANFS).[5] She was returned to the Coast Guard on 29 December 1943 and reclassified as WPG-122 and was struck from the Naval Register on 12 January 1944.[4]

Post war[edit]

Nourmahal was decommissioned on 30 May 1946 and returned to Navy custody in May 1947.

Nourmahal was transferred to the Maritime Administration for disposal on 18 July 1948 and, after several advertisements with no bids accepted the ship remained in the James River Fleet until sold for scrap on 11 September 1964 to Hughes Brothers, Inc. of Hampden, Maine for $27,502.[5] The ship was withdrawn from the fleet on 24 September 1964.[5]

Awards[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ SemperParatus.com U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) by Noun Name http://semperparatus.com/cutter_names_n-z.htm Retrieved: 26 July 2015
  2. ^ MacKay, Robert B. (2014). Great Yachts of Long Island's North Shore. Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia Publishing. p. 33. ISBN 978-1-4671-2152-1. LCCN 2013950193. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  3. ^ "The City Island Yacht" (PDF). City Island Nautical Museum. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS): Nourmahal". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "NOURMAHAL (PG-72/WPG-72/WPG-122)". MARAD Vessel History Database; Status Cards. Retrieved January 3, 2018.

Sources[edit]