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PCE-842-class patrol craft

United States Navy ship class of submarine chasers From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

PCE-842-class patrol craft
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The PCE-842-class patrol craft escort was a United States Navy (USN) ship class of submarine chasers designed during World War II. The PCE-842-class was the only class ever designated by the USN as the "patrol craft escort" (PCE) type (a PCE-905-class was planned, but none of the operational vessels served under the nominal class). The PCE design was derived from the 180-foot (55 m) Admirable-class minesweeper to complement the 173-foot (53 m) PC-461-class submarine chasers that were used for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) in coastal areas.[1] At 185 feet long and 640 tons, the PCE is more than twice the displacement of the PC but with a less powerful engine also much slower; however, because of its larger size, the PCE was able to undertake longer-range tasks over PC-461-class vessels. The USN envisaged the PCE as enabling PCs and smaller vessels to undertake coastal patrols without being called-upon as often to perform open ocean and convoy escort duties, while simultaneously freeing-up some larger vessels - such as destroyer escorts and destroyers - from convoy ASW duties. The PCE-482-class had a standard crew complement of 99 officers and men. The class would ultimately see 68 total vessels built, serving with multiple navies around the world.

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Development and design

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The Admirable class had been developed as a smaller minesweeper than the Raven-class and Auk-class minesweepers, which would be cheaper and easier to build, while still having good seakeeping capabilities in high seas. An escort derivative of the new design was proposed for supply under the Lend-Lease scheme to Britain's Royal Navy (which had already rejected the Admirable class as minesweepers), and when the United States Navy realized that a shortage of engines might prevent it from receiving additional PC-461-class submarine chasers beyond those already on order, it was decided to build the escort variant, designated as Patrol Craft Escort (PCE) for both the US Navy and Royal Navy.[1][2]

The ships were 184 ft 6 in (56.24 m) long overall and 180 ft 0 in (54.86 m) between perpendiculars, with a beam of 33 ft 1 in (10.08 m) and a draft of 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m).[1] Displacement was 850 long tons (860 t) standard and 903 long tons (917 t) full load.[3] They were powered by two 1,000 horsepower (750 kW) General Motors 12-278A diesel engines driving two shafts via single reduction gearing.[1][3] This gave a speed of 15.7 kn (18.1 mph; 29.1 km/h).[3] The ships had a range of 8,500 nmi (9,800 mi; 15,700 km) at 12 kn (14 mph; 22 km/h).[1]

The normal armament on completion consisted of a single 3 in (76 mm) gun forward, two 40 mm anti-aircraft guns, backed up by 4 or 5 Oerlikon 20 mm cannon. A Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar was mounted between the 3 inch gun and the ship's bridge, while depth charge projectors and rails were mounted on the ships' fantail.[4][5] Later ships were fitted with a third Bofors gun and additional Oerlikons,[3] while ships were later modified to mount three twin Bofors mounts and four Oerlikons.[5] Some ships (including PCE-867) were armed with two 3-inch guns and three Oerlikons.[6]

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Detection equipment

The class was fitted with radar, sonar and other detection equipment for ASW.

Conversions

Some PCEs were later converted to Rescue Escorts, PCE(R), and to Amphibious Control Vessels, PCE(C), which were used in many U.S. amphibious landing operations during World War II, especially Leyte Gulf and Normandy. Two such ships, which were converted to Rescue Escorts, were the USS Somersworth and USS Fairview, both of which were present at the surrender of Japan in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945.[7]

Production

Sixty-eight Patrol Craft Escorts were built for the US Navy, and seventeen were delivered under the Lend-Lease Program to Allies during World War II. [dubious – discuss] The PCEs proved to be an inexpensive substitute for larger and more valuable destroyers and destroyer escorts in convoy escort work.

Philippine Navy

As of 2014, the Philippine Navy still operates the Miguel Malvar class with six PCEs as gun corvettes, with all the ships' ASW equipment already removed. The PCE is the most numerous major ship class of the Philippine Navy that, at one time, numbered more than ten vessels.

Ships

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68 boats listed: 827 ... 860, 867 ... 886, 891 ... 904

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