Episode 356 - The American Suicide Fleet of WWI

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When America entered WWI they found their Navy seriously lacking. To fill the gap, FDR bought a bunch of yachts from his rich friends and tried to turn them into subchasers. It did no go well.

Sources:

https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2015/june/gilded-men-and-suicide-fleet

https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2011/january/when-frank-jack-met-maggie

https://airmail.news/issues/2024-8-24/the-new-york-yacht-club-goes-to-war

https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1973/june/eagle-boats-world-war-i

https://www.navsource.org/archives/12/170527.htm