PC-461-class submarine chaser

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]

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 × 1,440 bhp (1,070 kW) diesel engines

2 × shafts
Speed: 20.2 knots (37.4 km/h; 23.2 mph)
Range: 3000 nautical miles at 12 knots
Complement: 65
Armament: Varies over time. Typically 1 3”/50 gun forward , 1 3"/50 or 40mm Bofors aft, 3 or 5 20mm single mount cannons bridge/amidships. 2 or 4 K-guns, 2 depth charge racks.
Aircraft carried: None
Aviation facilities: None

PC-461 submarine chasers were used in the Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean, and Mediterranean. Numerous PC-461 class vessels were used to aid in amphibious assaults, including the Normandy invasion.[3][4]

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.[5]

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,[6] 8 to Brazil,[7] 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.

Six transferred to the Portuguese Navy in 1949 under the MDAP (Mutual Defense and Assistance Program) PC-812 as NRP Maio, PC-811 as NRP Madeira, PC-1257 as NRP Santiago, PC-809 as NRP Sal, PC-1256 as NRP São Tomé and PC-1259 as NRP São Vicente.

Conversions

Twenty-four PC-461s were converted to patrol gunboats, motor (PGM) and 35 were converted into amphibious control craft (PCC).

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See also

Citations
  1. Brian Clark Howard. "72 Years Later, Snubbed Captain Credited With Downing German U-Boat". National Geographic.
  2. http://www.ww2pcsa.org/patrol-craft.html
  3. Gary Hyde. "Louis Hyde: Crew Member on PC 1225 During WW2". Historynet.com.
  4. Barry Svrluga. "My Grandfather's Secret D-Day Journal". The Washington Post.
  5. Jonathan Sutherland. African Americans at War: An Encyclopedia, Vol. 1. p. 301.
  6. http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/01idx.htm
  7. https://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/the-other-world-war-ii-battle-the-atlantic-everyone-forgets-20645

References
  • Friedman, Norman (1987). US Small Combatants, Including PT-Boats, Subchasers, and the Brown-Water Navy: An Illustrated Design History
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