PC-461 class submarine chaser
USS PC-815, a US PC-461 class subchaser that served in World War II
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators: | |
| Preceded by: | Protoytpe submarine chasers USS SC-451 and USS SC-452 |
| Succeeded by: | PC-1610 class submarine chaser |
| Built: | 1941-1944 |
| Planned: | 403 |
| Completed: | 343 |
| Cancelled: | 60 |
| Active: | 0 |
| Lost: | 8 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Submarine chaser |
| Displacement: | 450 tons |
| Length: | 173 ft 8 in (53 m) |
| Beam: | 23 ft 0 in (7 m) |
| Draft: | 6 ft 2.5 in (2 m) |
| Propulsion: |
2 x 2,880 bhp diesel engines 2 x shafts |
| Speed: | 20.2 knots |
| Complement: | 65 |
| Armament: | Varies over time |
| Armor: | Steel hull |
2 x 2,880 bhp diesel engines
The PC-461 class submarine chasers were a class of 343 submarine chasers built mainly for the US Navy built from 1941-1944. The PC-461s were based primarily on two experimental submarine chasers, the PC-451 and PC-452. While PC-461 began the series, the first of the class to enter service was the PC-471. As part of the Lend-Lease program, 46 ships of this class were transferred to allies of the United States. Fifty-nine PC-461s were converted to other types of patrol vessels. Eight vessels of this class were lost, and one vessel was lost after conversion to a PGM-9 class motor gunboat. Only one PC-461, USS PC-566 commanded by Lieutenant Commander (later Captain) Herbert G. Claudius, actually sank a submarine, U-166, during World War II.
One member of this class, the USS PC-1264, was one of only two ships in the Navy during World War II that had a mostly African-American crew.
As part of the Lend-Lease program enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a total of 46 PC-461s were lent to allies of the United States. Thirty-two were sent to France, 10+(3 to cannibalized for spare parts+1 to private owner -George Simmonuti- as yacht in 1967) to Venezuela, 8 to Brazil, 1 to Uruguay, 1 to Norway, 1 to the Netherlands, and 1 to Greece.
Following the end of World War II, many PC-461 class ships were placed into reserve squadrons or brought out of active service. Many more however were furnished to American allies around the world, most notably the Republic of Korea.
The first vessel to join the new ROK Navy was former USS PC-823, transferred to the Republic of Korea Navy and renamed ROKS "Baekdusan" (PC-701). The vessel played a major part in the Battle of Korea Strait, the small naval battle fought on the first day of the Korean War in June 1950.
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