USS Rockford (PF-48)

USS Rockford (PF-48) painted in dazzle camouflage Measure 32, Design 16d, at Adak, Territory of Alaska, on 30 January 1945.
History
United States
Name:	Rockford
Namesake:	City of Rockford, Illinois
Reclassified:	PF-48, 15 April 1943
Builder:	Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California
Yard number:	533
Laid down:	28 August 1943
Launched:	27 September 1943
Sponsored by:	Mrs. Harry L. Crotzer
Commissioned:	6 March 1944
Decommissioned:	26 August 1945
Honors and awards:	2 battle stars, World War II
Fate:	Transferred to the Soviet Navy, 26 August 1945
Acquired:	Returned by Soviet Navy, 1 November 1949
Fate:	Transferred to Republic of Korea Navy, 23 October 1950
Acquired:	Returned by Republic of Korea Navy, 3 September 1952
Struck:	26 May 1953
Fate:	Sunk as target, 30 September 1953
Soviet Union
Name:	EK-18
Acquired:	26 August 1945
Commissioned:	26 August 1945
Fate:	Returned to United States, 1 November 1949
South Korea
Name:	ROKS Apnok (62)
Acquired:	23 October 1950
Fate:	Irreparable damage in collision, 21 May 1952 Returned to United States, 3 September 1952
General characteristics
Class and type:	Tacoma-class frigate
Displacement:	1,430 long tons (1,453 t) light 2,415 long tons (2,454 t) full
Length:	303 ft 11 in (92.63 m)
Beam:	37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)
Draft:	13 ft 8 in (4.17 m)
Propulsion:	2 × 5,500 shp (4,101 kW) turbines 3 boilers 2 shafts
Speed:	20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement:	190
Armament:	3 × 3"/50 dual purpose guns (3x1) 4 x 40 mm guns (2×2) 9 × 20 mm guns (9×1) 1 × Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar 8 × Y-gun depth charge projectors 2 × Depth charge tracks

USS Rockford (PF-48), a Tacoma-class frigate in commission from 1944 to 1945, thus far has been the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Rockford, Illinois. She later served in the Soviet Navy as EK-18 and in the Republic of Korea Navy as ROKS Apnokkang (62).

Originally classified as a patrol gunboat, PG-156, Rockford was reclassified as a patrol frigate, PF-48, on 15 April 1943. She was laid down on 28 August 1943, by Consolidated Steel Corporation in Los Angeles, California, launched on 27 September 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Harry L. Crotzer, and commissioned on 6 March 1944 with Commander D. H. Bartlett, USCG, in command.

Following shakedown off Los Angeles, Rockford, manned by a United States Coast Guard crew, reported to the United States Pacific Fleet and got underway on 25 June 1944 for the Southwest Pacific. On 2 July 1944 she attacked a Japanese submarine with depth charges, doing some damage. She made a second antisubmarine attack with Hedgehogs antisubmarine mortars on 7 July 1945. Continuing her voyage, she proceeded via Espiritu Santo to Australia, arriving at Cairns, Queensland, on 23 July 1944.