Figure 1: American Steam Yacht Noma, 1902, at anchor, prior to her World War I era Naval service. She was USS Noma (SP-131) from 1917-1919. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.
Figure 2: The Noma drydocked at the Union Iron Works shipyard, San Francisco, California, in 1915. This yacht served as USS Noma (SP-131) from 1917-1919. Note her figurehead. Courtesy of the San Francisco Maritime Museum, 1969. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.
Figure 3: USS Noma (SP-131) photographed circa 1917-1918, probably in French waters, with the sails of another vessel visible in the background, between her smokestacks. She was commanded at the time by Lieutenant Commander Lamar R. Leahy, USN. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.
Figure 4: View on deck of the USS Noma (SP-131), showing one of the ship's 3"/50 guns in action during operations off the coast of France, circa 1917-1918. Courtesy of Captain Lamar R. Leahy, USN, 1937. He was Noma's Commanding Officer during World War I. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.
Figure 5: A lookout (probably spotting the fall of shot) and the crew of one of the Noma's 3"/50 guns at work during an anti-submarine patrol, circa 1917-1918. Courtesy of Captain Lamar R. Leahy, USN, 1937. He was Noma's Commanding Officer during World War I. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.
Figure 6: USS Noma taking heavy rolls during World War I patrol duty, circa 1917-1918. View looks aft from the ship's starboard bridge wing. Courtesy of Captain Lamar R. Leahy, USN, 1937. He was Noma's Commanding Officer during World War I. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.
Figure 7: USS Noma’s (SP-131) helmsman at work while the ship was making heavy rolls during operations at sea, circa 1917-1918. Courtesy of Captain Lamar R. Leahy, USN, 1937. He was Noma's Commanding Officer during World War I. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.
Figure 8: British “Q-Ship” HMS Dunraven receives assistance from the British destroyer Attack, following her action with the German submarine UC-71 off Ushant, France, on 8 August 1917. Despite efforts to tow her to port, the badly damaged Dunraven foundered on 10 August. Photographed from USS Noma (SP-131). Courtesy of Captain Lamar R. Leahy, USN, 1937. He was Noma's Commanding Officer during World War I. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.
Built in 1902 by the Burlee Dry Dock Company at Staten Island, New York, the 1,250-ton USS Noma (SP-131) was a steam yacht originally owned by the millionaire Vincent Astor of New York City. Astor loaned the ship to the Navy for use in World War I and the Noma was commissioned on 10 May 1917 under the command of Lieutenant Commander Lamar Richard Leahy. The ship was approximately 262 feet long and 28 feet wide, had a top speed of 19 knots and carried a crew of 80 officers and men. She was armed with four 3-inch guns, 4 machine guns, and depth charges.
Because of the need for convoy escorts, the Noma was quickly sent to France to help protect Allied merchant ships. She left New York City on 9 June 1917 and arrived at Brest, France, on 4 July and immediately began escorting troop transports and merchant ships that were sailing toward France and England from the United States. On 20 July, while steaming off Cape Finisterre, Spain, the Noma spotted a German U-boat on the surface and attacked it. The submarine submerged, but there was no confirmation as to whether or not it was sunk by the Noma.
On 8 August 1917, the German U-boat UC-71 torpedoed the British “Q-ship” HMS Dunraven off Ushant, France. The submarine then surfaced and began shelling the Dunraven with its deck gun. The Noma happened to be in the area and quickly came to the assistance of the stricken British Q-ship. The Noma fired her guns at the surfaced submarine and dropped some depth charges on it after the U-boat submerged to get away from the American escort. The Dunraven’s commanding officer, Captain Gordon Campbell, RN, later stated that the Noma’s quick action and depth charge attack on the German U-boat saved his ship from certain destruction. The Noma took off several wounded sailors from the Dunraven and stayed with the Q-ship until two British destroyers came to her assistance. Unfortunately, despite heroic efforts to save the Dunraven, the Q-ship sank two days later on 10 August while being towed to port.
On 16 August, the Noma stumbled upon a surfaced German U-boat while it was recharging its batteries. The Noma fired a number of shots at the U-boat before it submerged. On 17 September, the Noma spotted another German U-boat that was shadowing an Allied convoy. Once again, the Noma fired at the U-boat and its shells straddled the submarine before it, too, submerged. Although neither incident produced “confirmed kills,” the German submarines were certainly chased away by this tough American escort.
While escorting the merchant ships Koln and Medina near France on 28 November 1917, the Noma, along with another escort, the Wakiva II, attacked two German submarines. While the Noma depth-charged one of the U-boats, the Wakiva II damaged the other. Rear Admiral Henry B. Wilson and Admiral William S. Sims commended both of the escorts for their attack on the German U-boats. The Noma’s commanding officer, Lt. Commander Leahy, also was awarded the Navy Cross for his role in this battle.
The Noma continued escorting convoys throughout the rest of the war. Her last confrontation with a German U-boat took place on 15 August 1918 while she was escorting a convoy to France. After the war ended, the Noma was stationed temporarily at Plymouth, England, before being assigned to the US forces based at Constantinople in early 1919. After passing Gibraltar on 26 January 1919, she made stops at Taranto and Malta before arriving at Constantinople on 13 February. She was carrying members of the American Relief Commission and, after reaching Constantinople, the Noma transported commission members to Constanta, Rumania; Varna, Bulgaria; and Batum, Russia. She also was given the tasks of removing American gold funds from Varna and serving as a transport for US Army personnel at all three ports.
The Noma left Constantinople on 21 May 1919 for her journey back to the United States. On 15 July 1919, the Noma was given back to her original owner, Vincent Astor, in New York City.
The USS Noma certainly saw its share of action against German U-boats during World War I and escorted a large number of merchant ships off the coast of France. What makes this story even more amazing is that the Noma was never meant to be a warship. She was specifically built for the very un-warlike task of transporting wealthy individuals in style and luxury. This shows that even the most peaceful-looking vessels can be converted into successful warships when the need arises.
