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 USS PC-815, a USPC-461-class submarine chaser that served in World War II | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | (13 companies in 11 states) |
| Operators |
|
| Preceded by | USSSC-451 and USSSC-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 (various models)2 × shafts |
| Speed | 20.2knots (37.4 km/h; 23.2 mph) |
| Range | 3000 nautical miles at 12 knots |
| Complement | 65 |
| Armament | Varies over time. Typically 13”/50 gun forward, 13"/50 or40mm Bofors aft, 3 or 520mm single mount cannons bridge/amidships. 2 or 4K-guns, 2depth charge racks. |
| Aircraft carried | None |
| Aviation facilities | None |
ThePC-461-class submarine chasers were a class of 343submarine chasers constructed mainly for theUS Navy and built from 1941 to 1944. ThePC-461s were based primarily on two experimental submarine chasers,PC-451 andPC-452. WhilePC-461 began the series, the first of the class to enter service wasPC-471. As part of theLend-Lease program, 46 ships of this class were transferred to allies of theUnited States. Fifty-ninePC-461s were converted to other types of patrol vessels. Eight vessels of this class were lost, and one vessel was lost after conversion to aPGM-9-class motor gunboat. Only one of the class, USSPC-566 commanded by Lieutenant Commander (later Captain) Herbert G. Claudius, actually sank a submarine,U-166, duringWorld War II;[1] however, the website 'Patrol Craft Sailors Association' citesPC-461-class ships sinking or assisting sinking up to 6 German and Japanese subs.[2]
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]
An unknown member of the class still survives as of June 17th, 2021 in theColumbia River just north of theTroutdale Airport.[1]
As part of the Lend-Lease program enacted by PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt, a total of 46PC-461s were lent to allies of the United States. Thirty-two were sent to France, 8 to Brazil,[6] 1 to Uruguay, 1 to Norway, 1 to the Netherlands, and 1 to Greece.
Following the end of World War II, manyPC-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 theRepublic of Korea.
The first vessel to join the new ROK Navy was formerUSS PC-823, transferred to theRepublic of Korea Navy and renamedROKS Baekdusan (PC-701). The vessel played a major part in theBattle of Korea Strait, the small naval battle fought on the first day of theKorean War in June 1950.
Six transferred to thePortuguese Navy in 1949 under the MDAP (Mutual Defense and Assistance Program) PC-812 as NRPMaio, PC-811 as NRPMadeira, PC-1257 as NRPSantiago, PC-809 asNRP Sal, PC-1256 as NRPSão Tomé and PC-1259 as NRPSão Vicente.
Five were transferred to theIndonesian Navy in 1958 and 1960 under theMutual Assistance Program.PC-1141 as KRITjakalang, PC-1183 as KRITenggiri, PC-581 as KRITorani, PC-580 as KRIHiu, and PC-787 as KRIAlu-Alu.[7]
Twenty-fourPC-461s were converted to patrol gunboats, motor (PGM) and 35 were converted into amphibious control craft (PCC). Eighteen were completed asAdroit-class minesweepers (AM) but their performance as such was judged to be unsatisfactory and they were converted back to the PC configuration.[8]
