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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

YHB-21

House Boat (Self-propelled)

Built by Union Iron Works, San Francisco, CA (YN 73)

Launched 16 April 1901

Completed for North Shore Railroad Co., San Francisco, CA, as side-wheel passenger steamer Tamalpais (ON 145873), May 1901

Acquired by the Navy, 11 February 1943

Placed in service as YHB-21 at Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA.

Placed out of service, date unknown

Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown

Transferred to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia CA.

Sold for scrapping, 29 July 1947, to Moore Dry Dock Co., Oakland, CA. as part of a lump sum purchase along with former Southern Pacific RR ferry boats Calistoga, Hayward, Alameda, and Santa Clara for $9,040

Delivered to Moore Dry Dock for dismantling, 17 October 1947

Final Disposition, burned in San Francisco Bay to recover metals, 28 November 1947

Specifications:
Displacement 1631 tons
Length 24'
Beam 16'
Draft unknown
Speed unknown
Complement unknown
Armament none
Propulsion 2-cylinder compound steam engine, 1800ihp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
11010406	232k	YHB-21 is in the background of this aft plan view of USS PCE-878 during her conversion to *USS Buttress* (ACM-4)** at Mare Island, 25 April 1944. Navy Yard Mare Island photo 2533-44	Darryl L. Baker
14342101	179k	YHB-21 moored at Mare Island Navy Yard, 29 July 1944. National Archives photo 19-N-70353 (cropped)	Dave Wright
1425098302	152k	Port of Stockton (YHB-2) is outboard of Tamalpais (YHB-21) in the background of this photo of YF-983 and YF-984 under construction at Navy Yard Mare Island, 03 January 1946. Both houseboats are out of service. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 23-46	Darryl Baker
1425098402	152k	Port of Stockton (YHB-2) is outboard of Tamalpais (YHB-21) in the background of this photo of YF-984 and YF-983 under construction at Navy Yard Mare Island, 03 January 1946. Both houseboats are out of service. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 24-46	Darryl Baker
14342102	99k	*Tamalpais* meets her fate in San Francisco Bay, 28 November 1947. The original caption reads: "Raging flames consume the forty-six year old ferryboat Tamalpais which was scrapped in the bay today. Fed by coal oil, soaked copra mats and excelsior, the blaze roared skyward creating huge columns of smoke. Engines and other metal parts will be salvaged by a local drydock company." International News photo by Bill Nichols	Dave Wright

There is no DANFS history for YHB-21 available at NavSource

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
No Information Available

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This page was created by Gary P. Priolo and is maintained by David L. Wright

Last Updated 31 March 2026