USS Winchester (SP-156)

USS Winchester (SP-156) was an armed yacht that served in the United States Navy as a patrol vessel from 1917 to 1919.

Construction, acquisition, and commissioning
SS Winchester was built as a fast, steel-hulled, steam-powered, destroyer-like civilian yacht in 1916 by Bath Iron Works at Bath, Maine. The U.S. Navy acquired her from her owner, Mr. Peter W. Rouss, on 30 May 1917 for use as a patrol vessel during World War I. She was commissioned on 4 September 1917 as USS Winchester (SP-156) with Lieutenant, junior grade, R. C. Nickerson, USNRF, in command.

United States Navy service, 1917-1919
Winchester initially was assigned to section patrol duty in the 2d Naval District in southern New England, patrolling the coast between Chatham, Massachusetts, and New London, Connecticut.

In January 1918, she was reassigned to the 5th Naval District and operated in the Norfolk-Hampton Roads area of Virginia, where she was assigned to special duty with the U.S. Navy Bureau of Construction and Repair to test minesweeping equipment. Late in December 1918, she moved once again, this time to City Island in the Bronx, New York, where she continued her minesweeping testing duties. On 13 April 1919, she returned to the 5th Naval District, operating out of Yorktown, Virginia, continuing to test minesweeping gear.

Winchester was decommissioned at Norfolk on 19 December 1919. After several attempts, she was finally sold to Cox and Stevens of New York City on 24 March 1921.

Civilian career, 1921-1940
Once again SS Winchester, the yacht resumed her civilian service with Cox and Stevens. 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) for use in inshore patrol duty during World War II. Later reclassified Z13, she was decommissioned in 1944 and returned to her owners.