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NavSource Online:
Submarine Chaser Photo Archive

USCGC Air Lapwing (WAVR 434)
ex-USS SC-717



Call sign:
Nan - Xray - Dog - Zebra

ex-USS PC-717


SC-717 served both the U. S. Navy and Coast Guard
SC-497 Class Submarine Chaser:

  • Laid down 30 July 1942 by Fisher Boat Works, Detroit, MI
  • Launched 14 December 1942
  • Commissioned USS PC-717, 14 May 1943
  • Reclassified SC-717 in April 1943
  • Transferred to the Coast Guard 30 October 1945 and commissioned USCGC Air Lapwing (WAVR 434)
  • Sold 19 January 1948 Edward Clair and renamed Yank
  • Sold to Tred Abrams of Montauk, NY
  • Sold in 1975 to Mike Scarpati and renamed Ranger IV
  • Renamed Rocket
  • Fate unknown.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 83 t.
  • Length 110' 10"
  • Beam 17'
  • Draft 6' 6"
  • Speed 21 kts.
  • Complement 28
  • Armament: One 40mm gun mount, three 20mm mounts, two depth charge projector "K Guns", 10 depth charges remote control side-dropping single release chocks, and two sets Mk 20 Mousetrap rails with
    four 7.2 projectiles
  • Propulsion: Two 1,540bhp General Motors (Electro-Motive Div.) 16-184A diesel engines, two shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS SC-717
    SC-717 329k 2 July 1944
    Photo from U. S. Small Combatants: An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman    		 Original photo: Historical Collections of the Great Lakes
    Replacement photo: Robert Hurst
    USCGC Air Lapwing (WAVR 434)
    SC-717 49k 10 August 1950
    Photo from U.S. Coast Guard Cutters and Craft 1946 - 1990 by Robert Scheina    		 Joe Radigan
    F/V Victory
    SC-717 125k c. 1958
    Sheepshead Bay, New Brooklyn, NJ
    Photo from Mel's Place courtesy of John Cairns    		 Robert Hurst
    There is no DANFS history available for SC-717
    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 Index Back to the 110' Submarine Chaser (SC) Photo Index
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    This page created by Joseph M. Radigan and maintained by Tom Bateman
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