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|---|---|
| US | |
| Name | Celt |
| Owner | J. Rogers Maxwell |
| Launched | 12 April 1902 |
| Fate | transfered to USN 3 July 1917 |
| History | |
 US | |
| Name | USS Sachem (SP 192) |
| Acquired | 3 July 1917 |
| Fate | transfered back to owner 10 February 1919 |
| History | |
| US | |
| Owner | Manton B. Metcalf |
| Acquired | 10 February 1919 |
| Fate | sold to Jacob "Jake" Martin and converted to a fishing boat 1932 |
| History | |
| US | |
| Owner | Jacob "Jake" Martin |
| Acquired | 1932 |
| Fate | reacquired by the Navy 17 February 1942 for $65,000 and converted for Naval service at Robert Jacobs Inc., City Island, NY |
| History | |
| US | |
| Name | USS Phenakite (PYc-25) |
| Builder | Robert Jacobs Inc., City Island, NY |
| Cost | $65,000 |
| Acquired | 17 February 1942 |
| Commissioned | 1 July 1942 at Tompkinsville, NY |
| Decommissioned | 17 November 1944 |
| Fate | transfered to the Maritime Commission for disposal 5 November 1945 |
| General characteristics | |
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:
References
- Lenton 1974, pp. 3–4
- ^ Priolo, Gary P. "Phenakite (PYc-25), ex-Sachem (SP 192)". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
- http://ohiokayak.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-trip-to-historic-lost-ghost-ship.html
- 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
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