Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

YP-165

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Foxtrot - Yankee
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is left to right
American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
YP Patrol Vessel
  • Designed by Frank P. Munro
  • Built by Willis J. Reid Boat Yard, Winthrop, MA
  • Launched, 07 April 1932
  • Completed for Charles T. Gilbert, Boston, MA, as the yacht Chiro (ON 231500), 1932
  • Sold to Edward I. Veitch, San Francisco, CA, 1936
  • Renamed Norwester, 1938
  • Registered to Leonard M. "Jack" Staub, Los Angeles, CA, 1939
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 16 December 1941
  • Placed in service as YP-165, 1942
  • Assigned to 11th Naval District, operating out of Santa Barbara and San Pedro, 1942 - 1944
  • Struck from Naval Register, 23 September 1944
  • Transferred to WSA (War Shipping Administration) for disposal, 27 March 1945
  • Returned to her owner, 1945
  • Registered to Beverly Management Corp., Los Angeles, CA, 1955 1
  • Owner restyled as The Norwester, Los Angeles, CA, 1970
  • Registered to The Orange Coast College Foundation, Los Angeles, CA, 1990
  • Later sold to King Graver, Anacortes, WA, circa 2006
  • Sold to Rick and Jackie Rutherford, to be restored for charter voyages, 2018
  • Struck rocks near Prevost Harbor, Stuart Island, WA, on final trials before starting charter season, 17 April 2021
  • Drifted half-sunk for several days before foundering off McCracken Point, Henry Island
  • Final disposition, currently under salvage, but likely a total loss (May 2021)
    1. The frequent references to Norwester being "John Wayne's yacht" as a bit overhyped. The yacht was acquired and owned by Boo Roos, Wayne's financial manager, not Wayne himself.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 67 gross tons, 46 net tons
    Length 70' 9" waterline, 76' 0" overall
    Beam 16' 5"
    Draft 8' 5"
    Speed 12 knots
    Armament unknown
    Complement unknown
    Propulsion two Winton diesels, twin shafts, 200hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed By
    Yacht "Chiro"
    YP-165
    143116501    		 43k Chiro being launched, 07 April 1932. Captain Lou Keller MV Norwester
    YP-165
    143116504    		 36k Chiro underway as completed, date and location unknown. Captain Lou Keller MV Norwester
    YP-165
    YP-165
    143116502    		 50k YP-165 ship's plaque Captain Lou Keller MV Norwester
    Yacht "Norwester"
    YP-165
    143116505    		 76k Norwester underway in Puget Sound, 2006. Captain Lou Keller MV Norwester
    YP-165
    143116506    		 216k Norwester hauled out of the water on the "hard" at Anacortes, WA, 2006. Captain Lou Keller MV Norwester
    YP-165
    143116503    		 57k Norwester while undergoing restoration at her dock at Anacortes, WA, 2007. Captain Lou Keller MV Norwester
    YP-165
    143116507    		 239k Norwester while undergoing restoration at her dock at Anacortes, WA, 2007. Captain Lou Keller MV Norwester
    YP-165
    143116508    		 75k Norwester underway in Puget Sound, shortly before her fateful final voyage, April 2021. Dave Wright
    YP-165
    143116509    		 50k Norwester in half-sunk state after colliding with rocks in Puget Sound, 17 April 2021. Dave Wright
    There is no DANFS history record for YP-165 available at Navsource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To the Service Craft Type Index Back To The Patrol Craft (YP) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page was created by Gary P. Priolo and is maintained by David L. Wright
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 31 May 2021