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Submarine Chaser (PC)
Index


Early PC's were converted yachts acquired by the Navy. These together with the 362 World War II built PCs replaced the larger and more valuable DD's and DE's around harbors and restricted waters. The 173 foot World War II constructed PC was steel hulled, twin diesel propelled and armed with a dual-purpose 3"/50 and 40mm gun. Later the 3"/50 was replaced with a single Bofors 40mm and 3 single 20mm guns were added. PCs carried a considerable amount of detection and ranging gear for locating submarines. They were capable of a speed of about 18 knots and were highly maneuverable. The Steel-hulled PC-461 Class ships were built in three series; PC-461 to PC-496 (36), PC-542 to PC-627 (86), PC-776 to PC-626 (51), PC-1077 to PC-1265 (189). Some PCs were converted to Amphibious Control Vessels and Reclassified PCC.

In addition to 403 173-foot PC-class patrol craft ordered for the U.S. Navy in 1941, eighteen 173-foot hulls were ordered for use as minesweepers, as the Adroit class. Built by five yards, all but three of the minecraft variant had been commissioned by the end of 1942, and the last entered service the following June. Unlike the PCs, AM 82-99 were given names: Adroit, Advent, Annoy, Conflict, Constant, Daring, Dash, Despite, Direct, Dynamic, Effective, Engage, Excel, Exploit, Fidelity, Fierce, Firm, and Force, respectively. As completed, they differed from the PCs in having a large sweep-cable reel mounted on the first platform deck and protruding through the main deck at the stem, in place of the after 3-inch or 40-mm gun mount; a slightly longer superstructure, surrounding the squat dummy funnel at its after end; a kingpost and boom fitted to handle minesweeping gear and the 16-foot-wherry; and two davits at the stem to handle sweep gear and reload depth charges.

AM 82 through 88, built at Portland, Oregon, saw service throughout World War II in the Pacific. Only the Annoy (AM-84) is recorded as having been used to sweep for mines, in Aleutian waters; the others principally were employed as convoy escorts in the dangerous waters of the southwest Pacific. The other 11 operated initially either from Bermuda (AM-89-93) or from mainland U.S. bases, again as convoy escorts. That they were far more useful in an antisubmarine role than as minecraft was realized quickly, and the 11 Atlantic units were cycled through the Norfolk Navy Yard during May and June 1944 to have their mine countermeasures gear removed and additional antisubmarine and antiaircraft ordnance added. The Pacific units were modified at Pearl Harbor. On 1 June 1944, all 18 lost their names and were Reclassified PC-1586 through 1603.

Of the 11 Atlantic units, PC-1593-1597 were sent to the Mediterranean, where they saw service during the landings in France in August 1944 and elsewhere as local escorts. They returned to Jacksonville, Florida, in June 1945, seeing no further action. PC-1598-1603 were dispatched to the Pacific in July 1944 and escorted support convoys as U.S. forces drew closer to the Japanese homeland. During the invasions at Okinawa and lwo Jima, several were used as inshore control ships for landing craft, and two were further Reclassified as control craft PCC-1599 and PCC-1601 in the summer of 1945. Only PC-1601 (ex-Fierce, AM-97) was lost during the war, on 21 May 1945. With the exception of the mothballed PC-1590 (ex-Constant, AM-86), which was recommissioned in May 1950 as a Naval Reserve training craft and served in that capacity until October 1954, the survivors were decommissioned quickly postwar and disposed of.

At 450 tons full load, the Adroit class displaced 18 tons more than did the PCs. All but the last four built were propelled by two 1,770 brake horsepower Cooper-Bessemer GNB-8 diesels; AM-96-99 were given 1,440 brake horsepower Busch-Sulzer BS 539 diesels, although the entire class was rated as able to achieve 16.8 knots at 330 tons displacement. They could at least nominally travel about 4,000 nautical miles at 12 knots, and the normal crew comprised 4 officers and 61 enlisted personnel.


A view of the Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Co, Sturgeon Bay. WI, c. 1943. On the right side there are four Patrol Frigate's being built and three being fitted out. On the left side are the PC docks with seven PC hulls visable. On the land side of the dock on the left there is another PC in seven or eight sections ready to be welded together on a launching dolly and on the RR tracks on the middle dock near the horizonal moored PC are a pair of main engines covered with tarps.
Photo courtesy of Bob Daly/PC-1181.

Click on ship name to view image(s) and DANFS history.

PC / PCC Ship Index
PC-451
PC-452
PC-454 ex-Sybilla (SP 104) Renamed/Reclassified Impetuous (PYc-46)
PC-455 Renamed/Reclassified Patriot (PYc-47)
PC-456 Renamed/Reclassified Persistent (PYc-48)
PC-457
PC-458 Renamed/Reclassified Retort (PYc-49)
PC-459 Renamed/Reclassified Turquoise (PY-18)
PC-460 Renamed/Reclassified Sturdy (PYc-50)
PC-461 Bluffton
PC/PCC-462
PC/PCC-463
PC-464
PC-465 Paragould
PC-466 Carmi
PC-467
PC-468
PC/PCC-469
PC-470 Antigo
PC-471
PC-472
PC-473
PC-474
PC-475
PC-476
PC-477
PC-478
PC-479
PC-480
PC-481
PC-482
PC-483 Rolla
PC-484 Cooperstown
PC-485
PC-486 Jasper
PC-487 Larchmont
PC-488 Renamed/Reclassified Eureka (IX 221)
PC-489
PC-490
PC-491
PC-492
PC-493
PC-494
PC-495
PC-496
PC-509 Named/Reclassified Valiant (PYc-51)
PC-510 Reclassified YP-105
PC-523 Reclassified YP-77
PC-542
PC-543
PC-544
PC-545
PC-546
PC-547
PC-548
PC/PCC-549
PC-550
PC-551
PC-552
PC-553 Malone
PC-554
PC/PCC-555
PC-556
PC-557
PC-558
PC-559
PC-560 Oberlin
PC-561
PC-562
PC/PCC-563
PC-564 Chadron
PC-565 Gilmer
PC-566 Honesdale
PC-567 Riverhead
PC-568 Altus
PC-569 Petoskey
PC-570
PC-571 Anoka
PC-572 Tooele
PC-573
PC-574
PC-575
PC-576
PC-577
PC/PCC-578
PC-579 Wapakoneta
PC-580 Malvern
PC-581 Manville
PC/PCC-582 Lenoir
PC-583
PC-584
PC-585
PC-586 Patchogue
PC-587
PC/PCC-588 Houghton
PC/PCC-589 Metropolis
PC-590
PC-591
PC-592 Towanda
PC-593
PC-594
PC-595
PC-596
PC-597 Kerrville
PC/PCC-598
PC-599
PC-600
PC-601 Arcata
PC-602 Alturas
PC-603 Solvay
PC-604
PC-605
PC-606 Andrews
PC-607
PC-608
PC-609
PC-610
PC-611
PC-612
PC-613
PC-614
PC-615
PC-616
PC-617 Beeville
PC / EPC-618 Weatherford
PC-619 Dalhart
PC-620 Bethany
PC-621
PC-622
PC-623
PC-624 Reclassified YW / YWN-120
PC-625
PC-626
PC-627
PC-684
PC-776 Pikeville
PC-777 Waynesburg
PC-778 Gallipolis
PC-779 Mechanicsburg
PC-780 Maynard
PC-781 Metuchen
PC-782 Glenolden
PC-783
PC-784
PC-785 Frostburg
PC-786
PC-787
PC-788
PC-789
PC-790
PC-791
PC-792
PC-793
PC-794
PC-795
PC-796
PC-797
PC-798
PC-799
PC-800
PC-801
PC/PCC-802
PC/PCC-803
PC-804
PC-805 Reclassified PGM-10
PC-806 Reclassified PGM-11
PC-807
PC-808 Ripley
PC-809
PC-810
PC-814
PC-815
PC-816
PC-817 Welch
PC-818
PC-819
PC-820
PC-821
PC-822 Asheboro
PC-823
PC-824
PC-825
PC-826 Renamed/Reclassified Venture (PYc-52)
PC-1039 Reclassified SC-1039
PC-1077 Edenton
PC-1078
PC-1079 Ludington
PC-1080
PC-1081 Cadiz
PC-1082
PC-1084
PC-1085
PC-1086
PC-1087 Placerville
PC-1088 Reclassified PGM-12
PC-1089 Reclassified PGM-13
PC-1090 Reclassified PGM-14
PC-1091 Reclassified PGM-15
PC-1119 Greencastle
PC-1120 Carlinville
PC-1121
PC-1122
PC-1123
PC-1124
PC-1125 Cordele
PC/PCC-1126
PC-1127
PC-1128
PC-1129
PC-1130
PC-1131
PC-1132
PC-1133
PC-1134
PC-1135 Canastota
PC/PCC-1136 Galena
PC/PCC-1137 Worthington
PC-1138 Lapeer
PC-1140 Glenwood
PC-1141 Pierre
PC-1142 Hanford
PC-1143
PC-1144
PC-1145 Winnemucca
PC-1146
PC-1147
PC-1148 Reclassified PGM-16
PC-1149 Susanville
PC-1167
PC-1168
PC / PCC-1169 Escandido
PC-1170 Kelso
PC-1171
PC-1172 Olney
PC-1173 Andalusia
PC-1174 Fredonia
PC-1175 Vandalia
PC-1176 Minden
PC/PCC-1177 Guymon
PC/PCC-1178 Kewaunee
PC-1179 Morris
PC-1180 Woodstock
PC-1181 Wildwood
PC-1182
PC-1183
PC-1184
PC-1186 Ipswich
PC-1189 Reclassified PGM-17
PC-1191 Bel Air
PC-1192
PC-1193 Ridgway
PC-1194
PC-1196 Mayfield
PC-1197
PC-1198 Westerly
PC-1200
PC-1201 Kittery
PC-1202
PC-1203
PC-1206
PC-1207
PC-1208
PC-1209 Medina
PC-1212 Laurinburg
PC-1213 Louden
PC-1215
PC-1216 Elkins
PC-1217
PC-1218
PC-1221
PC-1222
PC-1223
PC-1225 Waverly
PC-1226
PC-1227
PC-1228 Munising
PC-1229 Wauseon
PC-1230 Grinnell
PC-1231 Tipton
PC-1232
PC-1233
PC-1235
PC-1236
PC-1237 Abingdon
PC-1238
PC-1240 Culpeper
PC-1241
PC-1242 Port Clinton
PC-1243
PC / PCC-1244 Martinez
PC-1246 Canadaigua
PC-1247
PC-1248 to France as Sabre (W 11)
PC-1249 to France as Pique (W 13)
PC-1250 to France as Cimeterre (W 12)
PC/PCC-1251 Ukiah
PC-1252 Tarrytown
PC-1254
PC-1255 Reclassified PGM-18
PC-1257
PC-1258
PC-1260 Durango
PC-1261
PC-1262
PC-1263 Milledgeville
PC-1264
PC-1265
PC-1427 Reclassified PCS-1427
PC-1465 Reclassified PCS-1465
PC-1546 Grosse Pointe
PC-1547 Corinth
PC-1548 Reclassified PGM-9
PC-1549
PC-1550 Reclassified PGM-19
PC-1551 Reclassified PGM-20
PC-1552 Reclassified PGM-21
PC-1553 Reclassified PGM-22
PC-1554 Reclassified PGM-23
PC-1555 Reclassified PGM-24
PC-1556 Reclassified PGM-25
PC-1557 Reclassified PGM-26
PC-1558 Reclassified PGM-27
PC-1559 Reclassified PGM-28
PC-1560 to France as Coutelas (W 22)
PC-1561
PC-1562 to France as Javelot (W 23)
PC-1563
PC-1564
PC-1565 Reclassified PGM-29
PC-1566 Reclassified PGM-30
PC-1567 Reclassified PGM-31
PC-1568 Reclassified PGM-32
PC-1569 Anacortes
PC-1570 to PC-1585 Canceled
PC-1586 ex-Adroit (AM 82)
PC-1587 ex-Advent (AM 83)
PC-1588 ex-Annoy (AM 84)
PC-1589 ex-Conflict (AM 85)
PC-1590 ex-Constant (AM 86)
PC-1591 ex-Daring (AM 87)
PC-1592 ex-Dash (AM 88)
PC-1593 ex-Despite (AM 89)
PC-1594 ex-Direct (AM 90)
PC-1595 ex-Dynamic (AM 91)
PC-1596 ex-Effective (AM 92)
PC-1597 ex-Engage (AM 93)
PC-1598 ex-Excel (AM-94)
PC / PCC-1599 ex-Exploit (AM 95)
PC-1600 ex-Fidelity (AM 96)
PC / PCC-1601 ex-Fierce (AM 97)
PC / PCC-1602 ex-Firm (AM-98)
PC-1603 ex-Force (AM 99)
PC-1610 to France as Le Fougueux (P 641)
PC-1611 to France as L'Opiniatre (P 642)
PC-1612 to France as L'Agile (P 643)
PC-1613 to Portugal as Maio (P 587)
PC-1614 to Portugal as Porto Santo (P 588)
PC-1615 to Yogoslavia as Udarnik (PBR 51)
PC-1616 to Ethopia as Belay Deress
PC-1617 to Portugal as Sao Nicolus (P 589)
PC-1618 to France as P-7
PC-1619 to Italy as Albatros (F 543)
PC-1620 to Italy as Alcione (F 544)
PC-1621 to Italy as Airone (F 545)
PC-1622 to Denmark as Bellona (F 344)
PC-1623 to Denmark as Diana (F 345)
PC-1624 to Denmark as Flora (F 346)
PC-1625 to Denmark as Triton (F 347)
PC-1626 to Italy as Aquila (F 542)
PC-1635 to Portugal as Brava (P 590)
PC-1636 to Portugal as Fago (P 591)
PC-1637 to Portugal as Boavista (P 592)
PC-1638 to Turkey as Sultanhisar (P 111)
PC-1639 to Turkey as Demirhisar (P 112)
PC-1640 to Turkey as Yarhisar (P 113)
PC-1641 to Turkey as Akhisar (P 114)
PC-1642 to Turkey as Sivrihisar (P 115)
PC-1643 to Turkey as Kochisar (P 116)
PC-1644 built in Denmark as Peder Skram (F 352)
PC-1645 built in Denmark as Herluf Trolle (F 353)
PC-1646 built in Chile as Papudo (P 37)
PC-1647 Canceled

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This page created by Gary P. Priolo and maintained by Joe Radigan
© 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2005 NavSource Naval History, All rights reserved.