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Submarine Chaser Photo Archive

SC-449



Call sign:
Nan - Easy - Tare - Nan

ex-PC-449

Experimental Model Submarine Chaser:

  • Laid down 10 July 1939 by the Luders Marine Construction Co., Stamford, CT
  • Launched 14 May 1940
  • Commissioned USS PC-449, 25 September 1940
  • Reclassified SC-449 in April 1943
  • SC-449 was one of three Submarine Chasers built in a design competition. Built as an experimental SC design she had 50% more stability than the production models that were built. In early 1945, while under the command of
    LTJG Conrad S. Young, she was selected by the Navy to be converted into a mock Escort Carrier (CVE) to be used in the invasion of the Japanese homelands (Operation Swiss Navy). Her deck was stripped and rebuilt
    with plywood to look like a CVE. The Navy liked what they saw but she was very top-heavy, so they shelved that idea, plus the atom bomb put an end to these plans
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, sold and struck from the Navy Register 29 July 1949
  • Worked as an Oceanographic Research Vessel at Texas A&M Marine Department
  • Sold to Service Marine Inc. of Galena, TX for use as quarters for dredge crews
  • Scrapped in 1974.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 132 t.
  • Length 110"
  • Beam 18' 4"
  • Draft 6' 5"
  • Speed 15.3 kts.
  • Complement 28
  • Armament: One 3"/23 gun mount, two .30 cal. machine guns and one depth charge projector "Y Gun"
  • Propulsion: Two Superior diesel engines
    Replaced by two 800bhp Cooper Bessemer EN-8 diesel engines, two shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    SC-449 50k . E. J. Comeau PC 553/1228
    SC-449 215k . Original photo: Dan Treadwell
    Replacement photo: Ron Titus
    SC-449 62k Advertisement for Superior diesel engines Tommy Trampp
    SC-449 300k Original photo: c. 1941
    Post card
    Replacement photo: Undated post card    		 Original photo: Richard Leonhardt
    Replacement photo: Tommy Trampp
    SC-449 110k Experimental anti-submarine rocket set up on the SC-449. This was done at Key West in April of 1942. The system was designed by Dr.'s Schilchter and Lauretson of California Institute of Technology. It was the proto-type of the later Mouse Traps and Hedge Hog rockets. SCs carried one row of racks and the PC 's had two. The 30 lb. charge of TNT was carried in the war head with a contact detonator on top. The rocket charge was carried in the tail pipe. Most of the time they iginited but once in awhile they didn't. Then some poor sailor had to go forward, pick the rocket up and toss it over the side.
    National Archives photo 80-G-21905.    		 Bob Daly/
    PC-1181
    SC-449 55k Bow of SC-449 at Key West on 16 April 1942. Note barrel of 3"/23 gun in forground.
    National Archives photo 80-G-21913.
    SC-449 115k c. February 1945
    Ocracoke, NC
    Disguised as an Escort Carrier.
    National Archives photo    		 Ted Treadwell
    SC-449 186k c. 1945
    An aerial view of SC-449 disguised as a CVE.
    There is no DANFS History currently available for SC-449.
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Patrol Craft Sailors Association
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Patrol Craft/Gunboat/Submarine Chaser Ship Type Index Back to the 110' Submarine Chaser (SC) Photo Index
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    This page created by Gary P. Priolo and maintained by Joe Radigan
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