Please Report Any Broken Links Or Trouble You Might Come Across To The Webmaster
Please Take A Moment To Let Us Know So That We Can Correct Any Problems And Make Your Visit As Enjoyable And As Informative As Possible.

NavSource Online: Frigate Photo Archive

Grand Island (PF 14)

Call sign:
Nan - Dog - Roger - Charlie

ex-PG-122

Grand Island served the Navies of the United States and Cuba.

Tacoma Class Patrol Frigate:

(MC Type T. S2-S2-AQ1) Originally designated a Patrol Gunboat, PG-122

Reclassified as a Patrol Frigate, PF-14, 15 April 1943

Laid down 27 November 1943 under a Maritime Commission Contract, (MC hull 1432), by Kaiser Cargo, Inc., Yard No. 4, Richmond, CA

Launched, 19 February 1944

Commissioned USS Grand Island (PF-14), 27 May 1944

Decommissioned, 21 May 1946 at Charleston, SC

Custody transferred in June 1947 to U.S. State Department, Foreign Liquidation Commission for disposal

Transferred to Cuba, 16 June 1947 as Maximo Gomez (F 303)

Struck in 1964

A 1970s report indicated she was a "harbor hulk," meaning an old, dismantled ship at Mariel Bay, Cuba

Fate unknown.

Specifications:

Displacement 1,430 t.

Length 303' 11"(oa)

Beam 37' 6"

Draft 13' 8"

Speed 20.3 kts.

Complement 194

Armament: Three 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts (aft 3"/50 was removed and replaced with a weather balloon hanger), two twin 40mm gun mounts , nine 20mm guns, one Hedgehog depth charge

projector, eight Y-guns and two depth charge tracks

Propulsion: Two 3-drum expansion boilers, two 5,500iHP J. Hendy Iron Works vertical triple expansion engines, two shafts.

Click on thumbnail for full size image	Size	Image Description	Source
Grand Island
	127k	Mrs. William Shackleton, the former Evelyn Chrietensen, christens the Grand Island with a bottle of champagne Courtesy of the Stuhr Museum	Darryl L. Baker
	106k	Night shift workers at the Kaiser Shipyard in Richmond, California, watch the christening of the Grand Island. Courtesy of the Stuhr Museum	Darryl L. Baker
USS Grand Island (PF 14)
	280k	Forward plan view of Grand Island at Mare Island on 5 July 1944 U.S. Navy Photo 4297-44	Darryl L. Baker
	353k	Amidships looking aft plan view of Grand Island at Mare Island on 5 July 1944 U.S. Navy photo 4298-44
	143k	Bow on view of Grand Island in the Mare Island channel on 6 July 1944 U.S. Navy photo 4292-44
	227k	6 July 1944 Off Mare Island, CA Naval Shipyard Mare Island photo 4294-44 from David Pitlyk	Tim Rizzuto
	85k	Shown off Mare Island Navy Yard on 7 July 1944. She has completed outfitting/repairs at the shipyard from 29 May to 22 July 1944. She was in dry dock No.2 from 15 to 20 June 1944 U.S. Navy Photo 4293-44	Darryl L. Baker
	78k	Broadside view off Mare Island Navy Yard on 7 July 1944. U.S. Navy Photo 4294-44	Darryl L. Baker
	103k	12 May 1945 Refueling at sea from USS Boston (CA-69) Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1974 Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 78995	Robert Hurst
	544k	21 May 1945 Highlining with Boston (CA 69) off the coast of California U.S. Navy photo taken from a ZP-31* airship by Ensign Goetze*	Darryl L. Baker
	247k	21 May 1945 Highlining with Boston (CA 69) off the coast of California U.S. Navy photo taken from a ZP-31* airship by Ensign Goetze*	Rick Davis and John Chiquoine Photo added 7 October 2020
Maximo Gomez (F 303)
	37k		Robert Hurst
	35k	c. 1951
	251k	17 July 1951 Visiting the Spanish harbor of San Sebastian, Guipúzcoa. The Cuban ship was on hand as part of the festivities surrounding the Havana - San Sebastian regatta, organized by the Royal Yacht Club of San Sebastian (Real Club Nautico de San Sebastian) Photo by Paco Marí 1914-1972) from the Marín Collection and was provided to GureGipuzkoa by Hauxe. Kutxa Fototeka (Kutxa Photograph Library)
	243k
	216k
	243k
	34k	c. 1954 Cuban Navy photo
	40k	c. 1956 Cuban Navy photo