HMCS COUGAR (Z15)
HMCS COUGAR
The History of HMCS COUGAR
HMCS Cougar (Z15) was an armed yacht that served in the Royal Canadian Navy as a patrol vessel from 1940 to 1945.
Cougar was built as a civilian motor yacht Sabalo in 1916 by George Lawley and Sons at Neponset, Massachusetts. The U.S. Navy acquired her in 1917 and employed her as the patrol vessel USS Sabalo (SP-225) for the remainder of World War I, returning her to her owner, W. Earl Dodge of New York City, in 1919.
Dodge sold Sabalo to Van Lear Black of Baltimore, Maryland, in 1921. Black in turn sold her in 1931 to the Albert Pack Corporation of Chicago, Illinois, which renamed her Breezin' Thru. In 1937, Leila Y. Post Montgomery of Battle Creek, Michigan, bought Breezin' Thru, then sold her in 1940 to Bearl Sprott Ltd. of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
The Royal Canadian Navy acquired Breezin' Thru in 1940 and commissioned her as the patrol vessel HMCS Cougar (Z15) on 11 September 1940.
Cougar was placed on antisubmarine patrol out of Esquimalt, British Columbia. In May 1942 she was transferred to Prince Rupert Force, based at Prince Rupert, British Columbia. She returned to Esquimalt in June 1944, where she served as an examination vessel.
Cougar was decommissioned on 23 November 1945 and returned her to Bearl Sprott Ltd. in 1946.
Once again named Breezin' Thru, the yacht operated as a pleasure craft after her return to Bearl Sprott. She was sunk during a hurricane at Kingston, Jamaica, in September 1950.
HMCS COUGAR Statistical Data
- Pendant: Z15
- Type: Armed Yacht
- Class: N/A
- Displacement: 204 tonnes
- Length: 140 ft
- Width: 20 ft
- Draught: 10 ft
- Speed: 10 kts
- Compliment: 5 Officers and 35 Crew
- Arms: 1-6 pdr.
- Builder: Geo. Lawley & Sons, Neponset, Mass.
- Keel Laid: Unknown
- Date Launched: 1916
- Date Commissioned: 11/09/1940
- Paid off: 23/11/1945
Remarks
Formerly the Breezin' Thru.