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USS Aphrodite
Patrol vessel of the United States Navy / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aphrodite was a yacht built to requirements by owner Colonel Oliver H. Payne of New York City as an ocean going steam yacht with barque rig and capable of good speed under sail alone. The yacht was launched 1 December 1898 and completed in 1899 to be the largest American built steam yacht at the time. The yacht served in the United States Navy as the patrol vessel USS Aphrodite from May 1917 to July 1919. The yacht was given the designation SP-135 for Section patrol and was, unlike the majority of section patrol vessels, sent overseas rather than acting in that capacity in home waters. The yacht was returned to private service after the war.
![]() Aphrodite in 1899 | |
History | |
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Name | |
Namesake | Aphrodite, The goddess of love and fertility in Greek mythology |
Port of registry | |
Builder | Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine |
Cost | $450,000 |
Yard number | 25 |
Launched | 1 December 1898 |
Sponsored by | Miss. Vivien Scott |
Completed | 1899[note 1] |
Acquired |
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Commissioned | (Navy) 5 June 1917—12 July 1919 |
In service | March 1899 |
Out of service | April 1941 |
Identification | |
Fate | Sunk as Macedonia by German aircraft in Gulf of Corinth April 1941 |
General characteristics [3][4][5] | |
Type |
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Tonnage | |
Displacement | |
Length |
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Beam | 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) molded |
Draft |
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Sail plan |
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Speed | 15 kn (17 mph; 28 km/h) |
Complement | (Navy) 68 |
Armament |
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The yacht was sold to Greek owners in 1927 and renamed Aetos in 1930 then, on transfer to the Hellenic Coast Lines, renamed Macedonia in 1933. During the Italian and German invasion of Greece in April 1941 the ship was bombed by German aircraft and sunk.