USS Alacrity (PG-87)
Encyclopedia
USS Alacrity (PG-87) was an Action-class patrol boat
acquired by the United States Navy
for the task of patrolling American coastal waters during World War II
.
The second ship to be named Alacrity by the Navy, PG-87 — a gunboat
constructed in Collingwood, Ontario
, Canada by the Collingwood Shipyard, Ltd. — was acquired by the U. S. Navy on 6 January 1942; launched on 4 September 1942; and commissioned at Collingwood on 10 December 1942, Lieutenant
H. M. Godsey, USNR
, in command.
Annex on the 12th. She remained there until sometime in mid-July, when she sailed for Bermuda
and shakedown
training in the waters surrounding that island group. She completed shakedown on 15 August and arrived in New York City
three days later. After a round-trip voyage apiece to Norfolk, Virginia
, and Boston, Alacrity entered the navy yard at Boston for post-shakedown repairs on 21 September.
and the Caribbean
. For the next eight months, the gunboat screened coastwise merchant traffic on the New York-to-Guantanamo Bay, Cuba circuit. Early in May 1944, she added Key West, Florida
, to her itinerary, but soon thereafter resumed her New York-Guantanamo Bay shuttles exclusively. In May 1945, she ceased voyages to Cuba
when she was reassigned from the Atlantic Fleet
to the Eastern Sea Frontier
. For the remainder of the war, Alacrity served along the east coast—first at Staten Island
, then at New York, and — by mid-July — at Charleston, South Carolina
. By 1 August 1945, although still based at Charleston, she had been reassigned to the 6th Naval District.
on 24 October. She was transferred to the War Shipping Administration
on 22 September 1947 for final disposition.
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
acquired by the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
for the task of patrolling American coastal waters during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The second ship to be named Alacrity by the Navy, PG-87 — a gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
constructed in Collingwood, Ontario
Collingwood, Ontario
Collingwood is a town in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it is situated on Nottawasaga Bay at the southern point of Georgian Bay.-History:...
, Canada by the Collingwood Shipyard, Ltd. — was acquired by the U. S. Navy on 6 January 1942; launched on 4 September 1942; and commissioned at Collingwood on 10 December 1942, Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
H. M. Godsey, USNR
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
, in command.
World War II
By 31 December, the gunboat had moved to Sorel, Quebec, where she remained into March 1943. On the 3rd, she got underway to descend the St. Lawrence River, bound ultimately for Boston, Massachusetts. On 5 March, she stopped at Quebec, Canada, and remained there for two months. Alacrity resumed her voyage on 5 May and arrived at the Boston Navy YardBoston Navy Yard
The Boston Navy Yard, originally called the Charlestown Navy Yard and later Boston Naval Shipyard, was one of the oldest shipbuilding facilities in the United States Navy. Established in 1801, it was officially closed as an active naval installation on July 1, 1974, and the property was...
Annex on the 12th. She remained there until sometime in mid-July, when she sailed for Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
and shakedown
Shakedown (testing)
A shakedown is a period of testing or a trial journey undergone by a ship, aircraft or other craft and its crew before being declared operational. Statistically, a proportion of the components will fail after a relatively short period of use, and those that survive this period can be expected to...
training in the waters surrounding that island group. She completed shakedown on 15 August and arrived in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
three days later. After a round-trip voyage apiece to Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, and Boston, Alacrity entered the navy yard at Boston for post-shakedown repairs on 21 September.
East Coast operations
She got underway again on 25 September and began escorting ships between New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
. For the next eight months, the gunboat screened coastwise merchant traffic on the New York-to-Guantanamo Bay, Cuba circuit. Early in May 1944, she added Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
, to her itinerary, but soon thereafter resumed her New York-Guantanamo Bay shuttles exclusively. In May 1945, she ceased voyages to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
when she was reassigned from the Atlantic Fleet
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
to the Eastern Sea Frontier
Eastern Sea Frontier
The Eastern Sea Frontier was a United States Navy operational command during World War II, that was responsible for the coastal waters from Canada to Jacksonville, Florida, extending out for a nominal distance of two hundred miles....
. For the remainder of the war, Alacrity served along the east coast—first at Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, then at New York, and — by mid-July — at Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. By 1 August 1945, although still based at Charleston, she had been reassigned to the 6th Naval District.
Post-war decommissioning
She was still at Charleston when placed out of commission on 4 October 1945. Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel RegisterNaval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
on 24 October. She was transferred to the War Shipping Administration
War Shipping Administration
The War Shipping Administration was a World War II emergency war agency of the US Government, tasked to purchase and operate the civilian shipping tonnage the US needed for fighting the war....
on 22 September 1947 for final disposition.