PCE-842-class patrol craft
 PCEC-872 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: |
Pullman Standard Car, Chicago |
| Operators: |
 United States Navy United States Coast Guard Royal Navy Republic of Korea Navy Mexican Navy Ecuadorian Navy Colombian Navy Republic of Vietnam Navy Republic of China Navy Cuban Navy Philippine Navy Myanmar Navy |
| Built: | 1942–1945 |
| Completed: | 68 |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Displacement: | 850 long tons (860 t) |
| Length: | 180 ft (54.86 m) wl 184 ft 6 in (56.24 m) oa |
| Beam: | 33 ft 1 in (10.08 m) |
| Draft: | 9 ft (2.74 m) |
| Propulsion: | 2 shaft diesel engines 2,000 bhp (1,500 kW) |
| Speed: | 14.3 kn (26.5 km/h; 16.5 mph) |
| Range: | 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Complement: | 96 |
| Armament: | 1 × 3″/50 caliber gun 6 × Bofors 40 mm guns (3 twin mounts) 4 × 20 mm guns 1× Hedgehog anti-submarine projector Depth charges |
The Patrol Craft Escort was a World War II naval ship that was intended as a coastal and convoy escort. It was derived from the 180 foot Admirable-class minesweeper as a substitute for the 173 foot PC-461-class submarine chaser that was used for Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) in coastal areas.[1] At 185 feet long and 640 tons, the PCE is more than twice the displacement of the PC. It has a crew complement of 99 officers and men.
Development and design
The Admirable class had been developed as a smaller minesweeper than the Raven-class and Auk-class minesweepers, which would be cheaper and easier to build, while still having good seakeeping capabilities in high seas. An escort derivative of the new design was proposed for supply under the Lend-Lease scheme to Britain's Royal Navy (which had already rejected the Admirable -class as minesweepers), and when the US Navy realized that a shortage of engines might prevent it from receiving additional PC-461-class submarine chaser beyond those already on order, it was decided to build the escort variant, designated as PCEs (Patrol Craft Escort) for both the US Navy and Royal Navy.[1][2]
Engines
The PCE has two 1,000 HP diesel engines driving two shafts and two propellers giving it a 16 knots maximum sustained speed and a range of 8,000 miles at cruising speed of 13 knots.
Armaments
The usual PCE armaments are a dual-purpose 3"/50 cannon, three 40mm Anti-Aircraft guns, four 20mm guns, and two depth charge tracks. Some were later fitted with torpedoes, rockets, hedge hogs, and Heavy Machine Guns.
Detection equipment
The PCE was fitted with radar, and sonar and other detection equipment for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW).
Conversions
Some PCEs later were converted to PCE(R), Rescue Escorts, and to Amphibious Control Vessels, PCE(C)that were used in many U.S. amphibious landing operations in World War II specially Leyte Gulf and Normandy.
Production
Sixty Eight (68) Patrol Craft Escorts were built for the US Navy, and seventeen (17) were delivered under the Lend-Lease Program to Allies during World War II. The PCEs proved to be an inexpensive substitute for larger and more valuable DD's and DE's in convoy escort work.
Philippine Navy
In 2014, the Philippine Navy still operates the Malvar class with six PCE's as gun corvettes, with all the ships' ASW equipment already removed. The PCE is the most numerous major ship class of the Philippine Navy that, at one time, numbered more than ten vessels.
Ships
| Hull Number | Name | Builder[3] | Laid Down[3] | Launched[3] | Completed[3] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCE-827 | HMS Kilbirnie | Pullman Standard Car | 14 October 1942 | 2 May 1943 | 14 July 1943 | Sold commercially 1947 Norwegian Passenger ship Haugesund Sold Italy 1973, Sicilia Ponte Sold 1982, Tucalif Scrapped 1997[4][5] |
| PCE-828 | HMS Kilbride | Pullman Standard Car | 17 November 1942 | 15 May 1943 | 31 July 1943 | Sold commercially 1947 Norwegian Passenger ship MS Jylland Sold Turkey 1984, Kibris Sold Greece 1986, Princess Lydia Scrapped 1988[6] |
| PCE-829 | HMS Kilchatten | Pullman Standard Car | 7 December 1942 | 27 May 1943 | 16 August 1943 | Sold commercially 1947 Norwegian Passenger ship Stavanger Sold Finland, Kong Sverre[7] |
| PCE-830 | HMS Kilchrenan | Pullman Standard Car | 24 December 1942 | 13 June 1943 | 31 August 1943 | |
| PCE-831 | HMS Kildary | Pullman Standard Car | 16 January 1943 | 26 June 1943 | 14 September 1943 | |
| PCE-832 | HMS Kildwick | Pullman Standard Car | 5 February 1943 | 10 July 1943 | 27 September 1943 | |
| PCE-833 | HMS Kilham | Pullman Standard Car | 26 February 1943 | 2 August 1943 | 9 October 1943 | |
| PCE-834 | HMS Kilkenzie | Pullman Standard Car | 12 March 1943 | 19 August 1943 | 20 October 1943 | |
| PCE-835 | HMS Kilhampton | Pullman Standard Car | 30 March 1943 | 3 September 1943 | 30 October 1943 | |
| PCE-836 | HMS Kilmalcolm | Pullman Standard Car | 12 April 1943 | 17 September 1943 | 6 November 1943 | |
| PCE-837 | HMS Kilmarnock | Pullman Standard Car | 23 April 1943 | 1 October 1943 | 13 November 1943 | |
| PCE-838 | HMS Kilmartin | Pullman Standard Car | 4 May 1943 | 13 October 1943 | 20 November 1943 | |
| PCE-839 | HMS Kilmelford | Pullman Standard Car | 13 May 1943 | 23 October 1943 | 8 December 1943 | |
| PCE-840 | HMS Kilmington | Pullman Standard Car | 24 May 1943 | 2 November 1943 | 11 December 1943 | |
| PCE-841 | HMS Kilmore | Pullman Standard Car | 3 June 1943 | 9 November 1943 | 24 December 1943 | |
| PCE-842 | USS Marfa | Pullman Standard Car | 12 June 1943 | 14 November 1943 | 12 January 1944 | |
| PCE-843 | USS Skowhegan | Pullman Standard Car | 25 June 1943 | 24 November 1943 | 15 January 1944 | |
| PCE-844 | | Pullman Standard Car | 8 July 1943 | 1 December 1943 | 29 January 1944 | |
| PCE-845 | USS Worland | Pullman Standard Car | 24 July 1943 | 13 December 1943 | 12 February 1944 | |
| PCE-846 | USS Eunice | Pullman Standard Car | 10 August 1943 | 20 December 1943 | 19 February 1944 | |
| PCE-847 | | Pullman Standard Car | 24 August 1943 | 27 December 1943 | 4 March 1944 | |
| PCER-848 | | Pullman Standard Car | 7 September 1943 | 21 January 1944 | 18 March 1944 | |
| PCE(R)-849 | USS Somersworth | Pullman Standard Car | 24 September 1943 | 31 January 1944 | 29 March 1944 | |
| PCE(R)-850 | USS Somersworth | Pullman Standard Car | 6 October 1943 | 8 February 1944 | 6 April 1944 | |
| EPCE-851 | USS Rockville | Pullman Standard Car | 18 October 1943 | 22 February 1944 | 23 April 1944 | |
| EPCE(R)-852 | USS Brattleboro | Pullman Standard Car | 28 October 1943 | 1 March 1944 | 13 May 1944 | |
| PCE(R)-853 | USS Amherst | Pullman Standard Car | 16 November 1943 | 18 March 1944 | 31 May 1944 | |
| PCER-854 | | Pullman Standard Car | 24 November 1943 | 27 March 1944 | 7 December 1944 | |
| EPCE(R)-855 | USS Rexburg | Pullman Standard Car | 8 December 1943 | 10 April 1944 | 13 October 1944 | |
| PCE-856 | USS Whitehall | Pullman Standard Car | 17 December 1943 | 21 April 1944 | 10 November 1944 | |
| EPCE(R)-857 | USS Marysville | Pullman Standard Car | 21 December 1943 | 4 May 1944 | 30 March 1945 | |
| PCE-858 | | Pullman Standard Car | 3 January 1944 | 13 May 1944 | 23 April 1945 | |
| PCE(R)-859 | | Pullman Standard Car | 14 January 1944 | 28 November 1944 | 26 January 1945 | |
| PCE(R)-859 | | Pullman Standard Car | 25 January 1944 | 30 January 1945 | 3 March 1945 | |
| PCE-867 | | Albina Engine and Machinery | 8 July 1942 | 3 December 1942 | 20 June 1943 | |
| PCE-868 | | Albina Engine and Machinery | 11 August 1942 | 29 January 1943 | 31 August 1943 | |
| PCE-869 | | Albina Engine and Machinery | 2 September 1942 | 6 February 1943 | 19 September 1943 | |
| PCE-870 | USS Dania | Albina Engine and Machinery | 30 November 1942 | 27 February 1943 | 5 October 1943 | |
| PCE-871 | Albina Engine and Machinery | 3 December 1942 | 10 March 1943 | 29 October 1943 | ||
| PCE-872 | Albina Engine and Machinery | 30 January 1943 | 24 March 1943 | 29 November 1943 | ||
| PCE(C)-873 | Albina Engine and Machinery | 6 February 1943 | 5 May 1943 | 15 December 1943 | ||
| PCE-874 | USS Pascagoula | Albina Engine and Machinery | 1 March 1943 | 11 May 1943 | 31 December 1943 | |
| PCE-875 | Albina Engine and Machinery | 10 March 1943 | 27 May 1943 | 19 January 1944 | ||
| PCE-876 | Albina Engine and Machinery | 24 March 1943 | 16 July 1943 | 10 June 1944 | ||
| PCE(C)-877 | USS Havre | Albina Engine and Machinery | 6 May 1943 | 11 August 1943 | 14 February 1944 | |
| PCE-878 | USS Buttress | Albina Engine and Machinery | 11 May 1943 | 26 August 1943 | 13 March 1944 | |
| PCE-879 | USS Magnet | Albina Engine and Machinery | 27 May 1943 | 30 September 1943 | 10 July 1944 | |
| PCE-880 | USS Ely | Albina Engine and Machinery | 12 August 1943 | 27 October 1943 | 29 April 1944 | |
| PCE-881 | Albina Engine and Machinery | 11 August 1943 | 10 November 1943 | 31 July 1944 | ||
| PCE-882 | Albina Engine and Machinery | 26 August 1943 | 3 December 1943 | 23 February 1945 | ||
| PCE-883 | Albina Engine and Machinery | 30 September 1943 | 14 January 1944 | 13 November 1944 | ||
| PCE-884 | Albina Engine and Machinery | 27 October 1943 | 24 February 1944 | 30 March 1944 | ||
| PCE-885 | Albina Engine and Machinery | 25 February 1944 | 20 June 1944 | 30 April 1944 | ||
| PCEC-886 | Albina Engine and Machinery | 29 March 1944 | 10 July 1944 | 31 May 1945 | ||
| PCE-891 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works | 28 October 1942 | 24 April 1943 | 15 June 1944 | ||
| PCE-892 | USS Somerset | Willamette Iron and Steel Works | 28 October 1942 | 1 May 1943 | 8 July 1944 | |
| PCE-893 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works | 27 October 1942 | 10 July 1943 | 25 July 1944 | ||
| PCE-894 | USS Farmington | Willamette Iron and Steel Works | 7 December 1942 | 15 May 1943 | 10 August 1944 | |
| PCE-895 | USS Crestview | Willamette Iron and Steel Works | 2 December 1942 | 18 May 1943 | 30 August 1944 | |
| PCE(C)-896 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works | 2 December 1942 | 22 May 1943 | 27 November 1944 | ||
| PCE-897 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works | 16 December 1942 | 3 August 1943 | 6 January 1945 | ||
| PCE-898 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works | 16 December 1942 | 3 August 1943 | 24 January 1945 | ||
| PCE-899 | USS Lamar | Willamette Iron and Steel Works | 11 January 1943 | 11 August 1943 | 17 March 1945 | |
| PCE-900 | USS Groton | Willamette Iron and Steel Works | 11 January 1943 | 11 August 1943 | 12 April 1945 | |
| PCE-901 | USS Parris Island | Willamette Iron and Steel Works | 10 May 1943 | 8 July 1943 | 30 October 1944 | Completed as Auxiliary USS Parris Island (AG-72). Decommissioned 1947, sold commercially M/V Parris Island[8] |
| PCE-902 | USS Portage | Willamette Iron and Steel Works | 29 January 1943 | 28 August 1943 | 30 April 1945 | |
| PCE-903 | USS Batesburg | Willamette Iron and Steel Works | 18 February 1943 | 6 September 1943 | 16 May 1945 | |
| PCE-904 | USS Gettysburg | Willamette Iron and Steel Works | 18 February 1943 | 9 September 1943 | 31 May 1945 |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Gardiner and Chesneau 1980, p. 151.
- ↑ Friedman 1987, pp. 83, 85.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Friedman 1987, pp. 481–482.
- ↑ Friedman 1987, p. 481.
- ↑ Radigan, Joseph M. "HMS Kilbernie (BEC 1) ex-PCE-827 ex-PC-827". Navsource Naval History. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ↑ Radigan, Joseph M. "HMS Kilbride (BEC 2) ex-PCE-828 ex-PC-828". Navsource Naval History. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ↑ Radigan, Joseph M. "HMS Kilchatten (BEC 3) ex-PCE-829 ex-PC-829". Navsource Naval History. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- ↑ Radigan, Joseph M. "Parris Island (AG 72) ex-PCE-901". Navsource Naval History. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- Friedman, Norman (1987). U.S. Small Combatants: Including PT-Boats, Subchasers and the Brown-Water Navy: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institure Press. ISBN 0-87021-713-5.
- Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
External links
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