USS Goldcrest (AM-78)
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| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Ordered | as Armina |
| Laid down | date unknown |
| Launched | 1930 |
| Acquired | 27 October 1940 |
| Commissioned | 31 January 1941 |
| Decommissioned | 29 September 1944 |
| Stricken | date unknown |
| Fate | Disposed of, 3 July 1945 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 168 tons |
| Length | 110 ft 6 in (33.68 m) |
| Beam | 21 ft (6.4 m) |
| Speed | 13 knots |
| Complement | not known |
| Armament | one 3” gun mount |
USS Goldcrest (AM-78) was a
U.S. Navy
for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.
Career
Originally classified Agate (AM-78), Agate became PYc-4, 20 December 1940. She was built in 1930 by Mathis Yacht Building Co., (Hull # 209, O.N. 229834) Camden, New Jersey. as Armina (for William W. Atterbury, Pres. Penn R.R.Co.) (later renamed Stella Polaris) ; acquired by the Navy 27 October 1940 (from then owner, Mr.Livingston Short); and commissioned 31 January 1941.
Throughout most of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. There she was decommissioned 29 September 1944.
She was turned over to the Maritime Commission
for disposal 3 July 1945. (Thence sold by the War Shipping Admin. May 19, 1945 to Mr, Vince R. Trabucco, of Steger Il for $14,000.00 as "Stella Polaris", Chicago Il. The wood house was replaced/rebuilt/enlarged at Kingston NY for $75,000.00 and delivered July 1949. Redesigned to sleep 25, including 12 crew. $15,000 to $20,000 furnishings were shipped to Montreal and installed en route Chicago Il. Home-ported Chicago thru summer 1952, transiting the Mississippi to St Petersburg Fl Sept-Oct 1952. Nov 1952, sold to H. R. Davis, who had the owner's quarters enlarged below decks. Eventually sold and renamed Vallarta Alegre, being enlarged/modified as a dinner cruise vessel in Mexico. 2010, extensive upgrades, overhaul, and re-conversion to yacht status in San Diego, Ca.)**
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here. **(compiled by former Deck Hand 1952-1953, Capt H. Vanderploeg, ret.)