USS PC-1261

USS PC-1261 was a PC-461-class submarine chaser built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was the first ship sunk during the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, when she was hit by shellfire from German shore batteries.

USS PC-815, a similar PC-416 class submarine chaser
History
United States
Name	USS PC-1261
Builder	Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Laid down	20 November 1942
Launched	28 February 1943
Commissioned	May 1943
Fate	Sunk by shellfire off the coast of Normandy, 6 June 1944
Stricken	29 July 1944
General characteristics
Class & type	PC-461-class submarine chaser
Displacement	280 long tons (284 t) (light) 450 long tons (457 t) (full)
Length	173 ft 8 in (52.93 m)
Beam	23 ft (7.0 m)
Draft	10 ft 10 in (3.30 m)
Installed power	5,760 shp (4,300 kW)
Propulsion	2 × Fairbanks Morse 38D8 1/8 diesel engines 1 × Westinghouse single reduction gear 2 × shafts
Speed	20 kn (23 mph; 37 km/h)
Complement	65
Armament	1 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 cal dual-purpose gun, 1 × 40 mm gun, 3 × 20 mm cannons, 2 × rocket launchers, 4 × depth charge throwers, 2 × depth charge tracks

Career

PC-1261 was laid down on 20 November 1942 by the Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and launched on 28 February 1943. She was commissioned in May 1943 and was sent to Europe and participated in the Normandy Landings.

On 6 June 1944, PC-1261 led the first wave of landing craft at Utah Beach. While en route to the beach, she was struck by an artillery shell and foundered. She was the first ship sunk on D-Day.

External links

• USS PC-1261 (PC-1261)
• Photo gallery of USS PC-1261 at NavSource Naval History
• Chester County Hall of Heroes: John L. Maguire

49°30′N 01°10′W