Aztec

Beryl

Beryl, a gem, is a very hard silicate of beryllium and aluminum.

(PY-23: dp. 1029; 1. 225'; b. 34'; dr. 13'5"; s. 14 k.;
cpl. 66; a. 2 3"; cl. Beryl)

Beryl (PY-23) was launched in 1929 by Pusey and Jones Co., Wilmington, Del., as the yacht Rene; acquired from the Maritime Commission 13 December 1941; fitted out by Brewer Dry Dock Co., Staten Island, N. Y.; commissioned 17 March 1942, Lieutenant Commander C. A. Thorwald, USNR, in command; and assigned to the Pacific Fleet.

Beryl transited the Panama Canal 26 April and, after repairs at San Diego, Calif., arrived at Pearl Harbor 29 June 1942. She patrolled and escorted local convoys in the Hawaiian Islands until assigned weather duty in October 1943. On this duty the yacht initially operated out of Pearl Harbor but in July 1944 shifted her base to Midway Island. She returned to Pearl Harbor 10 July 1945 for repairs and remained there until returning to the west coast. Arriving at San Francisco 20 November 1945, she was decommissioned there 25 January 1946 and returned to the Maritime Commission 14 October 1946.