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 USS Aztec (SP-590)
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 US | |
| Name | USS Aztec (SP-590) |
| Namesake | Aztec (after the Mexican Indian Tribe) |
| Builder | Lewis Nixon Co. in Elizabethport, New Jersey |
| Laid down | 1902 |
| Acquired | 29 June 1917 from A. C. Burnage |
| Commissioned | 30 June 1917 |
| Decommissioned | 15 March 1919 |
| Out of service | 13 July 1945 (renamed HMCS Beaver) |
| Fate | Declared Surplus on 13 July 1945 and scrapped in 1957 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Steam Yacht Patrol Boat (Flagship) |
| Displacement | 848 Gross tonnage[1] |
| Length | 260 ft |
| Beam | 30 ft |
| Draft | 8 ft |
| Propulsion | Propulsion two 1,100hp 4-cylinder triple expansion steam engines |
| Speed | 12 knots |
| Armament | two 3"/50 mounts and two machine guns[web 1] |
USS Aztec (SP-590) was a steam yacht built in 1902 at Elizabethtown, New Jersey.[Web 1] Utilized by the United States Navy in World War I, and later on by the Royal Canadian Navy throughout the World War II era. The name Aztec originates from the mexican tribe that existed from the 15th to early 16th centuries. The Aztec presided over a large empire located in present-day central and southern Mexico.
Construction, Acquisition, and Commission
[edit]Aztec was built as a civilian steam yacht of the same name in 1902 by the Lewis-Nixon Co. The vessel was placed in active duty shortly after the United States Navy leased it from A.C. Burnage.[Web 2] Lease of the yacht began on 29 June 1917, and was then commissioned as USS Aztec (SP-590) 30 June 1917 for World War I service. Lt. Jason H. H. Milton was placed in command after extensive renovations and refitting in preparation for its escort and patrol duties. Aztec was stationed in the 1st Naval District in Boston, Mass. as designated flagship.[Web 3]
World War I Service
[edit]The vessel was responsible for making inspection tours of naval bases throughout the 1st Naval District. It also escorted submarines and British troop ships from Boston, Mass to places such as New London, Conn and Halifax, Nova Scotia. One notable event involved the escort of a British transport when it had unknown problems and the ship broke down. Aztec responded to the distress call and assisted by providing its rescue boats which ended up saving hundreds of troops from the inoperative vessel. USS Aztec (SP-590) continued service within the 1st Naval District up until it was decommissioned on 15 March 1919. During the Victory Fleet Review in New York Harbor late December of 1918 the Aztec carried Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt.[Web 4] Soon after this the steam yacht was returned to its owner on 7 August 1919.
Post-War Service
[edit]The Aztec was laid up at Boston, Mass in 1930 after the owner past away. It remained unemployed until early 1940 when it was sold to Mr. T. H. P. Molson, Montreal, Canada.[Web 5] Purchased with the intent to be requisitioned by the Royal Canadian Navy in the future. On 28 May 1940 the Canadian Navy took over the vessel and overhauled it for naval service. It was later commissioned in 1 April 1941 as HMCS Beaver (S10) and shortly after reclassified (Z10).[1]
World War II Service
[edit]HMCS Beaver was used as an anti-submarine patrol and convoy escort vessel. It was in service over the next two years based out of multiple areas including Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia, and Saint John, New Brunswick. The ship was then reassigned duty as a tender to HMCS Cornwallis and based along with it at Halifax on 27 December 1942. Soon after in early 1943 it was again moved and stationed in Deep Brook, Nova Scotia. Beaver remained in this location until it was reoutfitted for personnel transport from 9 February until 24 June 1944 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It began transporting naval personnel from Halifax and St. John's, Newfoundland until major defects arose in late September. It was then laid up in a dockyard in Halifax for repairs. The vessel was eventually paid off in late 1944 and later declared surplus on 13 July 1945 when it was decommissioned.[2] The ship was purchased on 7 January 1946 by Mr. Wentworth N. MaeDonald, Sydney, Nova Scotia in which it's fate is unknown.[1]
References
[edit]- http://www.historycentral.com/navy/yacht/aztec.html
- http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-a/sp590.htm
- http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/170590.htm
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