The United States Navy and Coast Guard acquired yachts from private owners and converted them for use in anti-submarine patrols. Two of these vessels came to bad ends during the war with Camden County NJ men serving aboard.

On May 2, 1942, the USS Cythera PY-26 was torpedoed off of the North Carolina coast by the German submarine U-402. Seaman Second Class Edwin John Klenk was lost along with most of the rest of her crew.

The USS Saint Augustine PG-54 sank on January 6, 1944 when she collided with the SS Camas Meadows. Chief Water Tender Arthur Carl Roscoe of Camden NJ was one of the 115 men lost.