One of Yachting’s Dozen: William K. Vanderbilt Jr.‘s Alva
In 2011, the editors of Yachting magazine selected 12 "yachts that we love" including Willie K's yacht which he used for expeditions from 1931 to 1935. "Alva may have been the original, over-the-top superyacht but she nonetheless was put into service during WWII and became the USS Plymouth."
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
1931
The 264-foot motoryacht was built by Krupp Germaniawerft in Kiel, Germany on a design by Cox & Stephens. Top speed was 16 knots.
This luxurious yacht was named Alva, after Willie K.'s mother, Alva Vanderbilt Belmont. It was powered by two diesel engines with an auxiliary eletric motor.
The main living room's overhead was 15 feet high, while the stateroom overheads were 9 feet high.
1931 Cruise
William K. Vanderbilt II (Jr.), his wife Rosamund, his friends Mr. and Mrs. Earle Smith and crew set on a world cruise in 1931 aboard the Alva. They departed Long Island and traveled through the Panama Canal to the Galapagos Islands, the Society Islands, Samoa, Australia, Java, Bora Bora, Bali, Singapore, Ceylon, Arabia, through the Suez Canal to Cairo, Athens and Monte Carlo and westward across the Atlantic to America.
The cruise was documented in a seventy-minute film “Over the Seas” which opened in December 1932 in New York City. It is the only known record of Willie K.'s voice.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 1
Part 2
Vanderbilts meeting natives of the Great Palm Island off Australia.
1934
Boston yards.
Transporting a Douglas Dolphin I Special Airplane.
Commissioned as USS Plymouth (PG-57)-1942
Less than one month after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. gave the Alva to the U.S. Navy.
It was placed into commission and converted into a patrol gunboat (PG) in January 1942 at the Nortfolk Navy Yard. It was commisssioned as U.S.S. Plymouth (PG-57) in April 20, 1942. On August 5, 1943, the ship was torpedoed by German Submarine U-566 of Cap Henry, Virginia. The USS Plymouth sank within two minutes with 85 of the crew of 155 surviving.
Comments
From Peter Warburton
“Rose was my Grandmother, this is the first and only time I have ever heard her voice.
This is very cool, i have only a copy of one of the books of the voyage. Thanks for this. I d like to get a copy of the entire film. Cheers, PW”
Absolutely wonderful. Ironic that she was both built and destroyed by Germany.
From Bruce Adams:
The U-566 that sunk ALVA was built in the same Krupp Shipyard in Germany
Another home run Howard ......Love it ....Thanks…
*The Alva named after William’s first wife, Alva Belmont, not his mother, who was named Maria Louisa.
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From Howard Kroplick
Mame, Alva Vanderbilt Belmont was William K. Vanderbilt Jr.‘s mother and the first wife of William K. Vanderbilt.
All very interesting, never know when something is going to come up in regards to history, when it comes to the Vanderbilt family do you? Thanks
My father served on the USS Plymouth during its Navy lifetime. Vanderbilt II gave Alva II for the usual $1. She did several convoy runs from NYC to Key West and Gitmo. Bit of a checkered career. Ran into a coast guard ship at one point. Had a new young commander who got Navy Cross & lost his left leg in U-566 attack using last torp of its duty.
Supposedly Alva II was quite popular when docked in East River. Reading this & seeing images it’s no surprise why! Quite the vessel. Dad was killed and I came out 8 months later so some good from it all. Always be prepared.
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From Howard Kroplick
Thank you for your father’s service!
My great uncle Alonzo Bolick served and died on the Plymouth.
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From Howard Kroplick
Jeramy, thank you for your family’s service to our country.
My dad was on the Plymouth, talked about this ship and men.Passed away 2014.
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From Howard Kroplick:
Condolences to your family. Thank you for your his service!
My grandfather Redington R Robbins Sr was first mate to Vanderbilt on both the Ara and Alva around the world trips.
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Howard Kroplick:
Very cool? Do you have any photos to share? If so, please forward them to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Thanks!
My father, Frence (Francis) Kellerman was the doctor on Alva in the late thirties. He joined at Kiel in Germany and after sometime with WK he settled in the UK before the Second World War.
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Howard Kroplick
Neat! Do you have any photos to share? If so, please forward to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .
The book “McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft since 1920, Vol. 1,” by Rene Francillon states that two Douglas Dolphin Amphibions Model 119 were purchased by Alfred Vanderbilt II and Wm. K. Vanderbilt II, and operated from the ALVA. I don’t have the book, but that explains the Dolphin in the photo. Some tender!
My Dad Morris A Poehler was a electrical engineer on the Alva, he was on the world cruise. Dad was involved in working at the Vanderbilt mansion. He courted my mom on the Alva, I had the pic of this.