USS ''Zoraya'' (SP-235) was an armed

yacht A yacht () is a sail- or marine propulsion, motor-propelled watercraft made for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. To be termed a ...

that served in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

from 1917 to 1919. ''Zoraya'' was a

wood Wood is a structural tissue/material found as xylem in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulosic fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin t ...

en- hulled

steam Steam is water vapor, often mixed with air or an aerosol of liquid water droplets. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporization. Saturated or superheated steam is inv ...

yacht constructed in 1901 by J. M. Bayles and Sons at

Port Jefferson, New York Port Jefferson, also known as Port Jeff, is an incorporated village in the town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 7,962 at the time of the 2020 census. Port J ...

, for Ms. Atala W. Thayer. The U.S. Navy acquired her from a later owner, Mr. William Biel, for

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

service with the section patrol on 16 August 1917. She was armed, designated SP-235, and commissioned at

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

on 17 December 1917. For the duration of the war, USS ''Zoraya'' served under the command of the

Commandant Commandant ( or ; ) is a title often given to the officer in charge of a military (or other uniformed service) training establishment or academy. This usage is common in English-speaking nations. In some countries it may be a military or police ...

3rd Naval District United States Naval Districts is a system created by the United States Navy to organize military facilities, numbered sequentially by geographic region, for the operational and administrative control of naval bases and shore commands in the Unit ...

, and patrolled the coasts of New York and

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

. The Navy returned ''Zoraya'' to her owners on 8 February 1919, some three months after the end of hostilities.

External links

Department of the Navy: Naval Historical Center: Online Library of Selected Images: Civilian Ships: Zoraya (American Steam Yacht, 1901). Served as USS Zoraya (SP-235) in 1917–1919.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zoraya (SP-235) Patrol vessels of the United States Navy World War I patrol vessels of the United States Steam yachts Ships built in New York (state) 1901 ships