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NavSource Online:
Patrol Yacht Photo Archive

Despatch (PY 8)
ex-Despatch (SP 68)
ex-Vixen (SP 68)

Patrol Yacht:

  • The fifth Despatch was built as Vixen in 1913 at Charles L. Seabury Co., Morris Heights, NY
  • Purchased by the Navy 6 August 1917
  • Commissioned USS Vixen (SP 68), 11 August 1917
  • Renamed Despatch 21 August 1917
  • Reclasified PY-8 17 July 1920
  • Decommissioned 15 July 1919 at Norfolk, VA
  • Recommissioned 2 April 1920 at Norfolk
  • Decommissioned 9 December 1921 at New York
  • Given to the State of Florida 10 May 1928
  • Fate unknown.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 237 t.
  • Length 167' 9"
  • Beam 20'
  • Draft 6'
  • Speed 16 kts.
  • Complement 49
  • Armament: Two 3-pounders
  • Propulsion: Two Seabury boilers, two 750hp vertical triple expansion steam engines, two shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Vixen
    Despatch 139k In port, probably in the New York City area in early August 1917, when she was taken over by the Navy for World War I service
    U.S. Navy photo NH 94463    		 Naval History and Heritage Command
    USS Despatch (PY 8)
    Despatch 66k In harbor, possibly during 1920-1921
    U.S. Navy photo NH 54504    		 Naval History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    01ENS John D. Lonsdale, USNRF10 August 1917
    02LT James C. Brown, USNRF1919
    Courtesy Joe Radigan
    View the Despatch (PY 8)
    DANFS History entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command Website
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    This page created by Joseph M. Radigan and maintained by Tom Bateman
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