The USS Guinevere (IX-67) was a notable patrol vessel of the United States Navy that served during World War II from 1942 to 1945. Originally built as a private yacht, Guinevere was constructed by George Lawley & Son in Neponset, Massachusetts, and launched on April 21, 1921. Designed by A. Loring Swansey in cooperation with Commander Fisher, USN, the vessel was distinguished by its diesel-electric propulsion system, making it the largest such yacht built in the United States and the largest fore-and-aft schooner yacht at the time. Its power plant comprised two Winton six-cylinder, 350-horsepower (260 kW) diesel engines directly connected to Westinghouse generators, which supplied electricity to a 555-horsepower (414 kW) Westinghouse motor coupled to the propeller. This setup enabled Guinevere to reach a speed of approximately 11.5 knots, with an impressive cruising range of 11,000 miles. The yacht's interior featured six large staterooms, with an additional deck stateroom accessible via a private stairway, all adorned with walnut and teak wood trim. Its auxiliary boats included a 30-foot owner's launch, a 25-foot crew launch, and a 21-foot sailing lifeboat, with all but the lifeboat powered. Requisitioned by the War Shipping Administration during the outbreak of World War II, Guinevere was commissioned into the Navy on June 16, 1942, at Brooklyn, New York. She initially performed harbor patrol duties in Boston, escorted convoys, and periodically patrolled off Greenland. Her service ended with decommissioning on August 2, 1945, and she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register shortly thereafter. The vessel was transferred for private sale in 1946. Post-war, Guinevere was operated as an undocumented vessel by David Johnson of Illinois, engaged in cargo trading, including sugar and contraband cigarettes to the Mediterranean. The vessel's later history remains obscure, with rumors suggesting she may have traveled to Greece or South America before vanishing from records. Notably, her unique diesel-electric design and wartime service mark her as a vessel of both technological and historical significance.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.