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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Wcress (talk | contribs) at 18:03, 27 July 2015 (Updated from NavSource. The foundation is trying to raise money to restore the vessel. A donation was used to locate and convert the ship's original drawings.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

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History US NameCelt OwnerJ. Rogers Maxwell Launched12 April 1902 Fatetransfered to USN 3 July 1917 History US NameUSS Sachem (SP 192) Acquired3 July 1917 Fatetransfered back to owner 10 February 1919 History US OwnerManton B. Metcalf Acquired10 February 1919 Fatesold to Jacob "Jake" Martin and converted to a fishing boat 1932 History US OwnerJacob "Jake" Martin Acquired1932 Fatereacquired by the Navy 17 February 1942 for $65,000 and converted for Naval service at Robert Jacobs Inc., City Island, NY History US NameUSS Phenakite (PYc-25) BuilderRobert Jacobs Inc., City Island, NY Cost$65,000 Acquired17 February 1942 Commissioned1 July 1942 at Tompkinsville, NY Decommissioned17 November 1944 Fatetransfered to the Maritime Commission for disposal 5 November 1945 History US NameUSS Phenakite (PYc-25) OwnerMaritime Commission Acquired5 November 1945 Fatereturned to her original owner, Mr. J. Martin of Brooklyn, NY and renamed Sachem on 29 December 1945 History US NameSachem OwnerJ. Martin Acquired29 December 1945 Fatesubsequently resold to the Circle Line of New York City and renamed Sightseer History US NameSightseer OwnerCircle Line of New York City Fatelist error: <br /> list (help)
Renamed Circle Line V

Reportedly scrapped in 1984
Found abandoned outside of Lawrenceburg, Indiana on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River
Presently under the custody of the D'Andrea LaRosa Art Foundation. The original 1902 ship's drawings from the shipyard have been located at the Hagley Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and converted to digital format.

Please see also the Raise the Sachem Campaign. General characteristics Displacementlist error: <br /> list (help)
317 long tons (322 t)
360 long tons (370 t) (1942) Lengthlist error: <br /> list (help)
186 ft 3 in (56.77 m)
183 ft (56 m) (1942) Beam22 ft 6 in (6.86 m) Draftlist error: <br /> list (help)
8 ft (2.4 m)
9 ft 7 in (2.92 m) (1942) Installed powerlist error: <br /> list (help)
1,200 shp (890 kW)
805 shp (600 kW) (1936) Propulsionlist error: <br /> list (help)
vericle triple-expansion steam engine, one shaft
7-cylinder Fairbanks-Morse 37D 14 diesel engine (1936) Speedlist error: <br /> list (help)
15 kn (17 mph; 28 km/h)
13.5 kn (15.5 mph; 25.0 km/h) (1942) Armamentlist error: mixed text and list (help)

• 1 x 6-pounder
• 2 x 3-pounders
• 2 x machine guns

• 1 x 3 in (76 mm)/23 cal
• 4 × .5 in (13 mm)Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, HB, single anti-aircraft guns (4x1)
• 2 × Mark 6 Depth charge racks

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The USS Phenakite was a converted yacht that was used by the United States Navy from 1942 to 1945. It was also known as Celt, Sachem (SP-192), Sightseer and Circle Line V.

History

The Phenakite was built 1902 as the yacht Celt by Pusey and Jones, Wilmington, Delaware, for J. Rogers Maxwell, a railroad executive. It was launched on April 12, 1902.

Shortly after the United States entry in to the First World War, it was acquired by the Navy on July 3, 1917. It was placed in service as USS Sachem (SP 192) on August 19, 1917 and used as a Coastal Patrol Yacht. During its Navy service, it was loaned to inventor Thomas Edison who conducted government funded experiments with it.

After the end of World War I, the Sachem was returned to her owner, Manton B. Metcalf of New York, on February 10, 1919. It was later sold to Philadelphia banker Roland L. Taylor and then to Jacob "Jake" Martin of Brooklyn, New York in 1932 who converted it to a fishing boat.

It was reacquired by the Navy on February 17, 1942 for $65,000 and converted for naval service at Robert Jacobs Inc., City Island, New York. It was commissioned as USS Phenakite (PYc-25), July 1, 1942 at Tompkinsville, New York and patrolled the waters off of the Florida Keys during World War II. It was decommissioned to undergo modifications and placed back in service on November 17, 1944. It was used for testing sonar systems before being placed out of service on October 2, 1945 at Tompkinsville, and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal on November 5, 1945.

The vessel was then returned to her previous owner, Martin, and renamed Sachem on December 29, 1945. It was struck from the Naval Register February 7, 1946. It was subsequently resold to the Circle Line of New York City and renamed Sightseer, but was later renamed Circle Line V. It served as a tour boat until 1983. It appeared in Madonna's Papa Don't Preach video in 1986.

It was purchased by Robert Miller in 1986.

Present location

The Circle Line V was reportedly scrapped in 1984 but was found abandoned outside of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River, where it has reportedly been since 1987. It is a popular destination for kayak enthusiasts in the Cincinnati area and is commonly referred to as "The Ghost Ship"

In March 2014 it was the subject of a story on the Internet comedy news podcast Broken News Daily.

Awards

For her service in the Navy, the Sachem / Phenakite earned the following awards:

• World War One Victory Medal
• American Campaign Medal
• World War II Victory Medal

References

1. Lenton 1974, pp. 3–4
2. ^ Priolo, Gary P. "Phenakite (PYc-25), ex-Sachem (SP 192)". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
3. http://ohiokayak.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-trip-to-historic-lost-ghost-ship.html
4. http://www.wcpo.com/entertainment/ship-lends-ghostly-history-to-paddlefest

External links

• "Ghost Ship" at Queen City Discovery
• USS Sachem and USS Phenakite at Abandoned

39°04′52.40″N 84°50′55.16″W / 39.0812222°N 84.8486556°W / 39.0812222; -84.8486556

• 1902 ships
• Ships built in Delaware
• World War II patrol vessels of the United States