USS Cyrene (AGP-13)

USS Cyrene (AGP-13) was a motor torpedo boat tender for the United States Navy.

She was laid down as Cape Farewell, a Maritime Commission type (C1-A) hull under a Maritime Commission contract, at Pusey and Jones Corp., Wilmington, Delaware.

Cyrene was launched 8 February 1944 as Cape Farewell by Pusey and Jones Corp., Wilmington, Del., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. G. L. Coppage; acquired by the Navy 28 April 1944; and commissioned 27 September 1944, Commander F. A. Munroe, Jr., USNR, in command.

Departing Norfolk, Virginia 10 November 1944, Cyrene arrived at Manus on 13 December to escort two squadrons of motor torpedo boats to Hollandia, New Guinea, then sailed on convoy duty to Leyte, arriving 1 January 1945.

She served as tender for motor torpedo boats and on 17 January 1945 became flagship for Commander, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons, 7th Fleet. She sailed from Samar 21 December 1945 and arrived at San Francisco 7 January 1946, reporting to the 12th Naval District for repair work in decommissioning small craft. Cyrene was decommissioned 2 July 1946 and delivered to the War Shipping Administration for disposal the same day.

Don Rickles, actor and comedian, served as S1/c aboard Cyrene until 1946 when he was honorably discharged.

As of 2005, no other ship in the United States Navy has been named Cyrene.

One of her lifeboats has survived and is now at Dover, England where it has been converted into a live-aboard vessel.

References

• "Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 (1998)" Retrieved July. 7, 2005.
• "Motor Torpedo Boat Tender (AGP)" Retrieved July. 7, 2005.
• "War on their Minds (2002)" Retrieved July. 7, 2005.