From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. I p 35
Almandite
Almandite is a variety of garnet, deep red in color.
Almandite (PY-24) was built in 1927 by Germania Werft, Kiel, Germany, as the yacht Happy Days; purchased by the Navy 27 January 1942 ; and commissioned 17 April 1942 at San Pedro, Calif., Lieutenant (junior grade) A. J. Hopkins, USNR, in command.
Assigned to the 14th Naval District, Almandite arrived at Pearl Harbor 17 May 1942. She operated on harbor entrance patrol, local escort, and weather duties until November 1945. Returning to San Francisco 12 November 1945, she was decommissioned 22 January 1946 and transferred to the War Shipping Administration 5 December 1946.