USS Cythera (PY-31) facts for kids
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USS Cythera (PY-31) on 10 November 1943.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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| Flag unknown | |
| Name | Argosy |
| Builder | Germania Werft, Kiel, Germany |
| Completed | 1931 |
| Renamed | Vita |
| Renamed | Abril |
| Fate | Sold to U.S. Navy 14 July 1942 |
 United States Navy |
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| Name | USS Cythera (PY-31) |
| Namesake | Cythera, one of the Ionian Islands |
| Acquired | 14 July 1942 |
| Commissioned | 26 October 1942 |
| Decommissioned | 3 January 1944 |
| In service | 3 January 1944 (non-commissioned) |
| Out of service | 14 March 1946 |
| Fate |
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| Flag unknown | |
| Name | Abril |
| Owner | Tyre Shipping Company |
| Operator | Irgun Zvai Leumi |
| In service | 1946 |
| Renamed | Ben Hecht |
| Namesake | Ben Hecht (1894–1964), American screenwriter, director, producer, playwright, journalist, novelist, and Zionist |
| Fate | Captured 8 March 1947 |
 Israeli Navy |
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| Name | INS Ma'oz (K 24) |
| Commissioned | September 1948 |
| Fate | Sold 1956 |
| Flag unknown | |
| Name | Abril |
| In service | 1956 |
 Italy |
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| Name | Santa Maria del Mare |
| Fate | Sold 2008 |
| Flag unknown | |
| Name | Rossy One |
| Status | Active as private luxury yacht 2009 |
| General characteristics as U.S. Navy vessel |
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| Type | Patrol vessel |
| Displacement | 800 tons (full-load) |
| Length | 205 ft 7 in (62.66 m) |
| Beam | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Draft | 10 ft 10 in (3.3 m) |
| Propulsion | 2 × 1,800 bhp (1,342 kW) Atlas or 2 × 2,060 bhp (1,536 kW) Krupp diesel engines, two shafts |
| Speed | 15 knots |
| Complement | 74 |
| Armament |
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The ship known as USS Cythera (PY-31) had a long and interesting life. It started as a fancy private yacht and later served in the United States Navy during World War II. It was also used by the Israeli Navy as INS Ma'oz (K 234).
Beyond its military roles, this ship was also famous as the Ben Hecht. It helped carry Jewish refugees to Mandatory Palestine when it was difficult for them to enter. It also spent time as a civilian yacht and even a ferry in Italy.
Contents
A Ship's Many Lives
Early Years as a Luxury Yacht (1931–1942)
This ship was built in 1931 in Kiel, Germany. It was first a 753-ton luxury yacht named Argosy. It was designed for 15 passengers and a crew of 20.
Later, its name changed to Vita, and then to Abril. In 1934, a famous sailor named Thomas Sopwith bought it. He used it to follow his racing yacht, Endeavour, during the 1934 America's Cup race. The ship was later called Abril again. During the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), it was used to transport supplies to forces in Spain.
The U.S. Navy bought the ship on July 14, 1942. They needed it as a patrol vessel during World War II. On October 26, 1942, it officially became USS Cythera (PY-31).
Cythera helped train sailors and escorted convoys (groups of ships traveling together) in the Gulf Sea Frontier. It traveled between Florida, Texas, and Cuba. Later, it moved to New York City and continued escorting convoys along the East Coast.
From December 1943, Cythera worked with the Underwater Sound Laboratory in Connecticut. It was taken out of full service on January 3, 1944, but continued to operate. It helped train submarines and worked on new sonar technology. This work was important for finding enemy submarines. The ship continued these tasks until April 1945.
After more training and maintenance, Cythera was taken out of service for good on March 14, 1946. It was then given to the United States Maritime Commission to be sold.
A Journey for Freedom: The Ben Hecht
In late 1946, a group called the Bergson Group bought the ship. They were Zionist activists who wanted to help Jewish refugees. They paid $36,400 for the ship. They renamed it MS Abril and spent over $100,000 to fix it up in New York.
The group planned to use the ship to carry Jewish refugees to Mandatory Palestine. This was a time when many Jewish people were trying to find a safe home. The ship was renamed MS Ben Hecht after a famous American writer who supported their cause.
On December 27, 1946, Ben Hecht left New York City with 19 American volunteers and two engineers as its crew. It had a difficult journey across the Atlantic Ocean. One of its engines broke down, causing delays.
A Risky Voyage
The ship arrived in France on January 10, 1947. There, it was changed to carry many passengers. To make space, toilets were even added outside the ship! On March 1, 1947, Ben Hecht left France with about 600 Jewish refugees.
The plan was for smaller boats to meet Ben Hecht off the coast of Palestine. These boats would take the passengers ashore secretly. The Irgun, the group behind the mission, also planned to create distractions for British forces in Palestine.
However, things didn't go as planned. The ship's engine problems meant it arrived a day late. British intelligence had been watching Ben Hecht since it was being fixed in New York.
Captured by the British
On March 8, 1947, a British Royal Air Force plane spotted Ben Hecht. Soon, several British Royal Navy destroyers surrounded the ship. Ben Hecht tried to trick the British by saying it was going to Chile.
But it was clear the ship was heading for Palestine. With no way to escape, Ben Hecht's crew raised the Zionist flag. The passengers sang their anthem, "Hatikvah". British Royal Marines boarded the ship. They faced no resistance and quickly took control.
The British towed Ben Hecht to Haifa in Mandatory Palestine. The crew was arrested, and the passengers were sent to prison camps in Cyprus.
In 1948, the ship was changed into a mother ship for special explosive boats. It joined the Israeli Navy in September 1948 as INS Ma'oz (K 24). This was during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.
On October 22, 1948, Ma'oz was patrolling off the Gaza Strip. Two Egyptian Navy ships were spotted. Ma'oz launched four small boats, three of them carrying explosives. The Egyptian ships were not expecting an attack and had their lights on.
The small boats got close to the Egyptian ships. The commandos set their explosives and jumped into the water. Two boats attacked the Egyptian flagship, El Amir Farouq, which sank quickly. The third boat attacked a minesweeper, which was badly damaged and later scrapped.
In 1956, after the Suez Crisis, the Israeli Navy sold Ma'oz to an Israeli businessman.
Later Civilian Life
After being sold, the ship was again named Abril. Later, an Italian company bought it and renamed it Santa Maria del Mare. It was used as a ferry in the Gulf of Naples.
In 2008, Santa Maria del Mare was sold again. It was completely renovated and turned into a luxury private yacht. It was even offered for sale for 15 million euros! It was then renamed Rossy One. As of 2009, it was still an active luxury yacht.
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See also
In Spanish: Vita (barco) para niños
