HMCS Renard (S13)

HMCS Renard (S13) was an armed yacht that served in the Royal Canadian Navy as a patrol vessel from 1940 to 1944.

Construction and United States Navy service
Renard was built as the fast, steel-hulled, steam-powered, destroyer-like American civilian yacht SS Winchester in 1916 by Bath Iron Works at Bath, Maine. The United States Navy acquired her in 1917 for use as a patrol vessel during World War I, commissioning her as USS Winchester (SP-156). She performed patrol duty along the coast of Massachusetts and Connecticut in 1917–1918, then was employed in Virginia and at New York City in 1918 and 1919 testing minesweeping gear. USS Winchester was decommissioned in 1919 and sold back into civilian service in 1921.

Civilian career, 1921–1940
Once again SS Winchester, the yacht resumed her civilian service, first with Cox and Stevens of New York City. She was sold several times, first to Vincent Astor, then to Russell A. Alger, Jr., and then to Cornelius Vanderbilt III. She later was sold to B. P. McCurdy, this time being renamed SS Renard.

Royal Canadian Navy Service, 1940–1944
Renard was sold to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1940 and commissioned as HMCS Renard (S13) on 27 May 1940. She was used for inshore patrol duty during World War II, and later was reclassified Z13.

HMCS Renard was decommissioned on 1 August 1944 and returned to her owners.