PC-461-class submarine chaser
 USS PC-815, a US PC-461-class submarine chaser that served in World War II | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators: | |
| Preceded by: | USS SC-451 and USS SC-452 |
| Succeeded by: | PC-1610 class |
| Built: | 1941-1944 |
| Planned: | 403 |
| Completed: | 343 |
| Cancelled: | 60 |
| Active: | 0 |
| Lost: | 8 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Submarine chaser |
| Displacement: | 450 tons |
| Length: | 173 ft 8 in (53 m) |
| Beam: | 23 ft 0 in (7 m) |
| Draft: | 6 ft 2.5 in (2 m) |
| Propulsion: |
2 × 2,880 bhp (2,150 kW) diesel engines 2 × shafts |
| Speed: | 20.2 knots (37.4 km/h; 23.2 mph) |
| Complement: | 65 |
| Armament: | Varies over time |
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The PC-461-class submarine chasers were a class of 343 submarine chasers constructed mainly for the US Navy and built from 1941–1944. The PC-461s were based primarily on two experimental submarine chasers, PC-451 and PC-452. While PC-461 began the series, the first of the class to enter service was PC-471. As part of the Lend-Lease program, 46 ships of this class were transferred to allies of the United States. Fifty-nine PC-461s were converted to other types of patrol vessels. Eight vessels of this class were lost, and one vessel was lost after conversion to a PGM-9-class motor gunboat. Only one of the class, USS PC-566 commanded by Lieutenant Commander (later Captain) Herbert G. Claudius, actually sank a submarine, U-166, during World War II, [1] however the website 'Patrol Craft Sailors Association' cites PC-461-class ships sinking or assisting sinking up to 6 German and Japanese subs. [2]
One member of this class, USS PC-1264, was one of only two ships in the US Navy during World War II that had a mostly African-American crew.
Lend-Lease program
As part of the Lend-Lease program enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a total of 46 PC-461s were lent to allies of the United States. Thirty-two were sent to France, 10+ (3 to cannibalized for spare parts and 1 to private owner -George Simmonuti- as yacht in 1967) to Venezuela,[3] 8 to Brazil, 1 to Uruguay, 1 to Norway, 1 to the Netherlands, and 1 to Greece.
Post-WWII importance
Following the end of World War II, many PC-461-class ships were placed into reserve squadrons or brought out of active service. Many more however were furnished to American allies around the world, most notably the Republic of Korea.
The first vessel to join the new ROK Navy was former USS PC-823, transferred to the Republic of Korea Navy and renamed ROKS Baekdusan (PC-701). The vessel played a major part in the Battle of Korea Strait, the small naval battle fought on the first day of the Korean War in June 1950.
Conversions
Twenty-four PC-461s were converted to patrol gunboats, motor (PGM) and 35 were converted into amphibious control craft (PCC).
See also
Citations
- ↑ Brian Clark Howard. "72 Years Later, Snubbed Captain Credited With Downing German U-Boat". National Geographic.
- ↑ http://www.ww2pcsa.org/patrol-craft.html
- ↑ http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/01idx.htm
References
- Friedman, Norman (1987). US Small Combatants, Including PT-Boats, Subchasers, and the Brown-Water Navy: An Illustrated Design History