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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

El Cano (IX-79)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Xray - Delta
 NYXD
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Foretopsail Schooner:
  • Built in 1927 as the Schooner Cressida, at Friedr Krupp Germainawerft A.G., Kiel, Germany
  • Brought to the United States in 1928, issued Official Number 227397, Owner, Herman Oelrichs, of New York City
  • Ownership transferred in 1930 to Albert E. Pierce, New York City
  • Ownership transferred in 1932 to Pierce Investment Co., DE.
  • Ownership transferred in 1938 to George Vanaderbilt, renamed Crimper
  • Name changed to Pioneer in 1939
  • Acquired by the Navy, 27 July 1942, as Pioneer
  • Placed in service, as El Cano (IX-79), 17 August 1942
  • Placed out of service, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 24 October 1945
  • Returned to George Vanderbilt, date unknown
  • Sold, 25 July 1862, to Leeward Trading Co. Miami, FL. renamed yacht Cressida
  • Operated in 1964 by Windjammer Cruises, Miami, FL. as yacht Yankee Clipper
  • Operated in the Caribbean until 2007 when the company went out of business, laid up at Trinidad for sale
  • Final Disposition, broken up at Trinidad in January 2017
    Specifications: unknown
    Displacement 464 t.
    Length 172'
    Beam 28' 2"
    Draft 11' 9"
    Speed 7.5 kts
    Complement unknown
    Propulsion
    one General Motors 8-133 Diesel engine
    single propeller, 400shp
    Ship's Service Generators
    one Diesel drive 30Kw 125V D.C.
     one Diesel drive 15Kw 125V D.C.
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    El Cano 181k Sail plan for the yacht Cressida
    Photo courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Robert Hurst
    El Cano 145k Yacht Cressida under way during sea trials in 1927
    Photo courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Robert Hurst
    El Cano (IX-79)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Classic Sail News from 1885-1935 to present - Restoration of the Century?
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Miscellaneous Ship (IX) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 12 January 2024