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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Zircon (PY-16), 1941-1947

USS Zircon, a 1220-ton patrol vessel, was built in 1929 at Wilmington, Delaware, as the yacht Nakhoda. She was acquired by the Navy in December 1940, converted to a warship, and placed in commission in March 1941. During the rest of the year, and into 1942, Zircon was employed as a school ship, based at New London, Connecticut, patrolled along the New England coast, and carried mail from Maine to Newfoundland. From February 1942 until March 1944 she patrolled and escorted convoys in the western Atlantic and the Caribbean. Zircon served as a weather ship in the north Atlantic in March-November 1944. She became relief flagship for the Atlantic Fleet in December 1945 and remained in that role until World War II ended. Sent to Charleston, South Carolina, in September 1945 to prepare for inactivation, USS Zircon was decommissioned in May 1946 and later transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal. She was sold in April 1947.

This page features the only view we have of USS Zircon (PY-16).

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 81385 USS Zircon (PY-16) Underway, during World War II. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1974. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 46KB; 740 x 470 pixels

In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other views of USS Zircon (PY-16). The following list features some of these images:

The images listed below are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Photo #: 80-G-179811 USS Zircon (PY-16) underway during World War II. Port broadside (somewhat toward the stern) surface view. Photo #: 80-G-80037 USS Zircon (PY-16) underway on course 000 off the U.S. East Coast (position 38-18N, 74-05W) at 1300 hours, 22 August 1943. Photographed from a blimp of squadron ZP-14, based at Naval Air Station Weeksville, North Carolina. Port quarter high aerial view. Photo #: 80-G-233782 USS Zircon (PY-16) underway in the western Atlantic (position 42-11N, 68-05W), steering course 285 at 0715 hours on 30 April 1944. Starboard quarter aerial view. Reproductions of these images should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center. The images listed in this box are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

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Page made 25 January 2004