USS PGM-7 after conversion from USS SC-1072 |
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| Career (United States of America) | |
|---|---|
| Builder: | Mathis Yacht Building Co., Camden, New Jersey |
| Laid down: | 10 March 1943 |
| Launched: | 17 June 1943 |
| Commissioned: | 28 June 1943 |
| Fate: | unknown |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | PGM-1 Class Motor Gunboat |
| Displacement: | 95 tons |
| Length: | 110 feet, 10 inches |
| Propulsion: | two 1,540bhp General Motors (Electro-Motive Div.) 16-184A diesel engines, two shafts |
| Speed: | 21 knots |
| Complement: | 28 |
| Armament: | 1 x 3"/23 gun mount 1 x 40mm gun mount 4 x twin .50 cal. machine guns |
USS PGM-7 was a gunboat that served in the United States Navy during World War 2. She was commissioned as USS SC-1072, an SC-497 Class Submarine Chaser on June 28, 1943. She was reclassified as a PGM-1 Class Motor Gunboat on December 10, 1943. She was dispatched to the Solomon Islands for patrol service.
All twenty-four crew members reporting on board USS SC-1072, June 28, 1943, were received from the receiving station, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The official Reports of Changes for USS SC-1072 provide port locations and sailing destinations as follows:
19 JUL 43 sailing from Naval Air Station, Cape May, New Jersey to Jacksonville, Florida
11 AUG 43 sailing from Pier #2, S.C.T.C, Miami, Florida to Navy Section Base, Key West, Florida
15 AUG 43 sailing from N.O.B., Key West, Florida to Burwood, Mississippi
17 AUG 43 sailing from Burwood, Louisiana to Canal Zone [Burwood is located in the state of Louisiana, perhaps the 15 AUG entry refers to the Mississippi River as the location of Burwood?]
28 AUG 43 sailing from Naval Station, Coco Solo, Canal Zone to Naval Station, San Diego, California
14 SEP 43 sailing from Naval Base, San Diego, California to Naval Base, San Francisco, California
24 SEP 43 sailing from Naval Section Base, Treasure Island, California to Naval Section Base, Seattle, Washington
19 NOV 43 sailing from NavSta, Pier 41, Seattle, Washington to Naval Operating Base, San Pedro, California
23 NOV 43 sailing from NavSecBase, Treasure Island, California to Naval Operating Base, San Pedro, California
January 23, 1944, USS PGM-7 departed San Pedro, California, headed for Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, in company of PGM’s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 and USS Armadillo (IX-111). The Armadillo provided fuel and water for the PGM’s in transit to Hawaii. The Log Book of USS PGM-3 contains the following entry for January 25, 1045 hours: “U.S.S. PGM-2 reported bad leak and was ordered by Senior Officer Present Afloat to return to port accompanied by U.S.S. PGM-4 as escort.” PGM-7 and the remaining ships continued their journey, arriving at Pearl Harbor on February 1. On February 12 the PGM-7 left Pearl Harbor en route to Palmyra Atoll in company of PGM’s 8, 5, 3 and 1 and arrived there February 15. The next day the five PGM’s continued their journey en route to Pago Pago, Tutuila Island, American Samoa, arriving there on February 20.
Sadly, Edmund Roman Niess, Machinist’s Mate first class, a member of the crew of PGM-7, drowned in an accident on February 23, 1944, in Pago Pago Harbor. He was buried in the U.S.M.C. Cemetery, Tutuila, the next day. Niess was the only member of the crew of PGM-7 lost during the war according to the official Reports of Changes for the ship.
The five PGM’s left Pago Pago on February 24, headed toward Suva, Viti Levu, Fiji, arriving there on February 27 after adjusting the ships’ clocks forward one day. PGM’s 8, 5, 3 and 7 departed Suva on February 28 en route to Nouméa, New Caledonia, arriving there March 2. The same four PGM’s departed Nouméa 10 days later en route for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, arriving there March 14. PGM-7 departed for the Solomon Islands on March 15 in company of PGM’s 5 and 8, arriving at Guadalcanal two days later. After a short stay at Guadalcanal, the ships crossed over to nearby Tulagi, Florida Islands (known today as Nggela Islands).
After a stay of nearly two weeks, PGM’s 5, 7 and 8 departed the Florida Islands on March 29 en route for Rendova Island, New Georgia Islands, Solomon Islands. On April 6, PGM-7 departed Rendova in company of PGM-5 headed for the Motor Torpedo Boat Base #9, Treasury Islands, arriving there on the same day. MTB Base #9 served as the home base for the remainder of PGM-7’s navy career.
Two days after arriving at MTB Base #9, PGM-7 departed at 1743 hours on April 8 for its first patrol of the coastal waters of southwest Bougainville Island. Over the next three months, PGM-7 conducted anti-barge and anti-submarine patrols along the southwest and southeast coasts of Bougainville, the general vicinity of Fauro Island, and the west coast of Choiseul Island. The ship was accompanied on these patrols by various other PGM ships of PGM Division One as well as various PT boats from nearby squadrons.
Starting at the end of June, 1944, the PGM-7 participated in a prolonged patrol along the northwestern coast of New Ireland (island), in view, at a distance, of night attacks on the Japanese base at Rabaul on New Britain. On June 28, PGM’s 5, 7 and 8 departed Torokina for New Ireland to patrol area “uncle.” The patrol included the coastal locations of Tambaker Point, Huru Point and Cape Roloss. The ships visited the advance base at Green Islands, arriving the afternoon of July 1 and departing the afternoon of July 4, taking on fuel and water and doing other unspecified work during this period. The PGMs returned to the same patrol area, concluding their patrol on July 7 and arriving back at MTB Base #9 on the Treasury Islands on July 8.
In the early morning hours of July 18, PGM-7 departed MTB Base #9 for another patrol of New Ireland in company of PGM’s 4, 5 and 8. At 0543 hours PGM-7 was severely damaged in a collision with PGM-4. An eye-witness account of the collision is available in the book Splinter Fleet by Theodore R. Treadwell. Heavy seas contributed to difficulties in maintaining proper patrol formation and PGM-4 lost track of PGM-7 on radar. Suddenly the PGM-7 appeared off the starboard bow of PGM-4 and it was too late to prevent a collision. Contrary to other reports, the official Log Book of PGM-7 establishes for a fact that the ship did not sink. Quoted here are the entries in the ship’s log for July 18, 1944 and subsequent dates:
July 18, 1944
“0300 underway from Sterling Harbor, Treasury Islands, en route to New Ireland and New Britain for operations in company with PGMs 4, 5 & 8 “
“0543 rammed by PGM 4 in engine room, port side. Collision piped by watch topside, General alarm dead, all hands given word to put on life jackets, PGM 4 drifted out of hole alongside port side, bow facing PGM 7’s stern, Captain went aboard PGM 4, directed all hands to abandon ship, 19 men abandon ship before ships drifted apart, Executive and Third Officer and 8 men aboard PGM 7, Executive Officer passes word to men still aboard to jettison all ammunition on starboard side of forward magazine, engine room flooded 30 inches above deck, control room had 6 inches above deck, after crew’s quarters reported by Savage, J.J., PhM1c, water up to deck boards, permission granted by Executive Officer to jettison 40mm ammunition in after magazine, Captain returned aboard in rubber life raft with Reuter, J.E, BM1c and proceeded to unload after magazine, when magazine emptied with exception of port side of forward magazine, in order to counter-balance starboard list, 2 barbettes were jettisoned, during this time the water had risen above the deck in the after crew’s quarters and attempts were made to pump out the water with a gasoline handy-billy, it failed to start and soon after Lt. (jg) Lindblooom and two MoMMs came aboard from the PGM 5 in a rubber life raft and attempted to start handy-billy, it failed and the PGM 5 sent over their handy-billy which also failed, later these pumps were operated successfully”
“0745 PGM 8 attempted to tow the PGM 7 with the anchor chain but the attempt failed after five minutes when the chain parted”
“0830 PGM 8 attempted to tow the PGM 7 with the six inch hawser approximately 200 feet in length, this also failed several minutes later when the tow line parted due to the short length of the line used”
“ 0945 PGM 8 again attempts to tow with their own anchor chain, this attempt also failed about 45 minutes when chain parted”
“1000 the gasoline handy-billy began to work and the after compartment and the tank compartment were continually pumped thereafter”
“1240 U.S.S. YMS 249 came alongside to tow us in, proceeding at 1250”
“1846 through nets, U.S.S. YMS 249 still towing”
“1900 PGM 8 received tow and brought us up to Steaming Dock, Sterling Harbor, Treasury Islands.”
“July 19 “ “0000-0400 moored as before alongside Dry Dock Pier at Sterling Harbor, Treasury Islands, being patched temporarily”
“July 26 “ “Moored as before”
“0715 getting underway, secured alongside PGM 4, proceeding in harbor, en route for Purvis Bay “
“0755 through nets “
“0800 PGM 4 left alongside, now taking tow, speed 5 knots”
"0800-1200 being towed by PGM 4 en route to Purvis Bay, speed 5 knots, using 1200 feet ¾ inch cable, temporarily patched on deck and port side, 2 gasoline pumps on board for purpose of pumping bilges, 8 men and 2 officers aboard"
“July 28” “1130 Carter City [Florida Islands], now secured to Sub-Buoy in harbor, PGM 4 left for water”
“August 31, 1944” [last page of log] “0000-0400 moored as before at Carter City, Small Craft Repair Base, Florida Island area, in dry dock, using portable gasoline generator for ships power, crew living on base, officers living aboard, awaiting further orders from Bureau”
The final fate of PGM-7 is not indicated in the ship’s log. It was apparently scrapped by the navy due to extensive damage to the hull.
Fate of the crew of PGM-7
All 27 crew and 3 officers of PGM-7 survived the collision of July 18, 1944. The PGM-7 Report of Changes for the month ending July 31, 1944, lists 19 crew members transferred to MTBRons, Base 9, Navy 811, Treasury Islands, for temporary duty. The PGM Division One (Base Force at Treasury Islands) Report of Changes for the month ending September 30, 1944, lists 28 crew members received from PGM-7 on September 17, 1944, with 14 transferred the same day to other PGMs of Division One (the extra crew member reported aboard after the collision).
Officers of PGM-7 for the period January 1, 1944 to September 17, 1944
Deck Log List of Officers 31 MAY 44 to 30 JUN 44 provides the following three officers:
A. J. Malcomson, Lt., USNR, reported aboard 28 JUN 43, duties: Captain, Navigator, 1st Lt.
E. S. Rubin, Lt. (jg), USNR, reported aboard 28 JUN 43, duties: Ex. Officer, Gunnery Officer, Comm. Officer
Morgan Ellsworth, Lt. (jg), USNR, reported aboard 10 FEB 44, duties: Engineering Officer, Commissary & Supply Officer
L. L. Kupferberg, Ensign, USNR, 3rd officer, his signature appears on the ship log January 1, 1944 and is found for the last time on February 3, 1944. Ensign Kupferberg was the 3rd officer of the ship for the convoy from San Pedro, California to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Ellsworth took his place at Pearl Harbor.
Crew of PGM-7 for the period January 23, 1944 to September 17, 1944
Crew member name is followed by the date reporting on board, date detached, rate at the time of detachment, and ship or location transferred. For men transferred to Base Force PGM Division One and later transferred to another ship of PGM Division One, date of transfer to Div. 1 is followed by date transferred to PGM ship. For Navy ratings see: US Navy Interviewer's Classification Guide
Ray Davis, 3 JAN 44 to 17 SEP 44, St3c, transferred to PGM-1;
William Earl Demaree, 9 MAR 44 to 17 SEP 44, F1c, transferred to PGM-3;
August Dhieux Jr., 29 SEP 43 to 17 SEP 44, GM2c, transferred to PGM-5;
George Paul Fernekes, 28 JUN 43 to 17 SEP 44, SoM2c, transferred to PGM Div. 1, transferred 20 NOV 44 to MTB Base 9;
Frank Adolph Frandeen, 29 JUL 44 to 17 SEP 44, MoMM2c, transferred to PGM Div. 1, transferred 5 JAN 45 to PGM-3;
Charles Edward Gerding, 28 JUN 43 to 17 SEP 44, S1c, transferred to PGM-2;
Bernard Golden, 28 JUN 43 to 17 SEP 44, Y3c, transferred to PGM-1;
Marsden Donald Guild, 28 JUN 43 to 17 SEP 44, MoMM3c, transferred to PGM-2;
Ollie David Harvey, 12 AUG 43 to 17 SEP 44, RM2c, transferred to PGM-4;
Donald George Hoover, 28 JUN 43 to 17 SEP 44, MoMM2c, transferred to PGM Div 1, transferred 15 NOV 45 to PGM-5;
Theron Wesley Horne, 28 JUN 43 to 17 SEP 44, QM2c, transferred to PGM Div. 1;
Howard Kelly Ingram, 27 JUL 43 to 17 SEP 44, S1c, transferred to PGM Div. 1, transferred 20 SEP 44 to PGM-2;
Howard Floyd La Favre, 3 JAN 44 to 17 SEP 44, S2c, transferred to PGM Div 1, transferred 23 OCT 44 to PGM-3;
James Edward Lawrence, 14 OCT 43 to 17 SEP 44, RM2c, transferred to PGM Div. 1, transferred 22 SEP 44 to USS Jamestown;
Billy Reeves Laws, 3 JAN 44 to 17 SEP 44, S1c, transferred to PGM-2;
Keith Raymond Lewis, 3 JAN 44 to 17 SEP 44, SC3c, transferred to PGM Div. 1;
John Edward Lyons, 27 JUL 43 to 17 SEP 44, GM2c, transferred to PGM Div. 1;
Ralph Edson Morse, 27 JUL 43 to 17 SEP 44, RdM2c, transferred to PGM-8;
Robert Edward Musser, 28 JUN 43 to 17 SEP 44, EM2c, transferred to PGM-4;
Edmund Roman Niess, 28 JUN 43 to 23 FEB 44, MM1c;
James Edward Ownby, 28 JUN 43 to 17 SEP 44, CMoMM(T), transferred to PGM Div. 1;
John Everett Reuter, 28 JUN 43 to 17 SEP 44, BM1c, transferred to PGM Div. 1, transferred 15 NOV 45 to PGM-3;
Clarence Stanley Rhodes, 1 JUN 44 to 17 SEP 44, S1c, transferred to PGM-1;
Cleveland Pearce Rhodes, 1 JUN 44 to 17 SEP 44, S1c, transferred to PGM-6;
William Warren Robinson, 1 JUN 44 to 17 SEP 44, S1c, transferred to PGM-3;
Raymond Rodrick Jr., 28 JUN 43 to 17 SEP 44, CY(T), transferred to PGM Div. 1;
John Joseph Savage, 3 JAN 44 to 17 SEP 44, PhM1c, transferred to PGM Div 1, transferred 20 NOV 44 to PGM-4;
Joseph Max Smith, 28 JUN 43 to 10 JUN 44, CMM(AA);
Thomas Franklin Strobietto, 3 JAN 44 to 14 MAR 44, F2c;
John Darrell Wolfe, 17 OCT 43 to 17 SEP 44, S1c, transferred to PGM Div. 1;
Arthur George Wolszon, 17 OCT 43 to 17 SEP 44; S1c, transferred to PGM-6;
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