Name this Naval Vessel

Neither actually.

 

USS Sacramento PG-19.

 

I also thought a US gunboat but the pictures I found of her had a much taller funnel.

Should have searched harder

PG-19 Sacramento

 

Yeah, the funnel, and the bridge, threw me off at first, but the bow and the curve of the stern quarter convinced me it was a USN gunboat type, Yangtze type vintage. In fact, my first reaction was USS Isabel, so I looked in my 1942 Janes to double check, and, lo, it was not Isabel, but there on the same page was USS Sacremento with the circa 1939 tall funnel and everything else matching. I kinda guessed that the tall funnel had been done away with and found the same photo as did you, in the same place.

 

You got it.

 

okay, not the greatest picture in the world, taken by my father from the forecastle of USS Arkansas.

So, forgetting about the tiny sailboat just left of center, what is the name of the vessel in the center of the picture and it's purpose in life.

Extra points for naming the city in the background.

More extra credit for naming the ship on the far right.

Rich

 

The shape of the bow makes me think of a cable layer, but my Jane's doesn't list them.
There is a resemblance with the sub tender USS Sumner (ex Bushnell) but once again the funnel looks wrong

 

As it is not heavily armed, I can't say it's anything close to even an DE, maybe... Liberty but I don't think you'd repeat. The best I can come up with is a liberty ship, sorry (not that great with naval history).

 

Nope and nope. In 1937, when this photo was taken, my father was a midshipman on his first class cruise; in another year he'd be a brand new ensign. The the summer cruise was to european waters. The ship in the center of the photo is not American, although the ship on the right is.

Maybe a close-up?

 

Doesn't help much, can't see any distinctive equipment so it may be anything from a school ship to a presidential (or royal) yacht or sub or MTB tender.
The isolated tall narrow building in the background makes me think of Venice and San Marco's belltower but in most pictures I have of Regia Marina ships at Venice they were moored much closer to shore.

If she's Italian the ocean research ship Ammiraglio Magnaghi looks a lot like that

 

No, not Ammiraglio Magnaghi, nor even Italian nor in Italian waters. BUT in your musings you did manage a nice straddle of the target.

 

That is correct. This photo is off Kiel and the ship on the right - - USS New York.

 

De Ruyter

 

Okay, try this one.

Rich

 

Reminds me of the YDG-4

 

Nope, not YDG-4, right nationality, though

 

Lapwing class minesweeper ?