USS Coronado (PF-38)

For other ships of the same name, see USS Coronado.

Career (United States)
Name:	USS Coronado (PG-146)
Namesake:	Coronado, California
Reclassified:	PF-38, 15 April 1943
Builder:	Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California
Laid down:	6 May 1943
Launched:	17 June 1943
Sponsored by:	Mrs. J. R. Crutchfield
Commissioned:	17 November 1943
Decommissioned:	12 July 1945
Honors and awards:	4 battle stars, World War II
Fate:	transferred to the Soviet Navy, 13 July 1945
Acquired:	returned from Soviet Navy, 16 October 1949
Struck:	14 January 1953
Fate:	transferred to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, 14 January 1953
Acquired:	returned from Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, 9 July 1971
Fate:	unknown
Career (Soviet Union)
Name:	EK-6
Acquired:	13 July 1945
Fate:	Returned to United States, 16 October 1949
Career (Japan)
Name:	JDS Sugi (PF-285)
Acquired:	14 January 1953
Decommissioned:	31 March 1969
Fate:	Returned to United States, 9 July 1971
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 caliber guns (3×1) • 4 × 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 Coronado (PF-38), a Tacoma-class frigate, was the first ship of the United States Navy named for Coronado, California, a city adjacent to Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California.

Her keel was laid down by the Consolidated Steel Corporation of Wilmington, California, under a Maritime Commission contract (MC Type T. S2-S2-AQ1). She was originally authorized as a gunboat, being designated PG-146, but was redesignated as a Patrol Frigate (PF-38) on 15 April 1943. She was launched on 17 June 1943, sponsored by Mrs. J. R. Crutchfield, and commissioned on 17 November 1943 with Lieutenant Commander N. W. Sprow, United States Coast Guard, in command.

Service history

World War II, 1944-1945

Coronado sailed from San Diego, California, on 8 February 1944 for convoy escort duty to Nouméa and Cairns, Australia, en route to New Guinea, arriving there on 25 March. After escorting troop and cargo transports to Manus to support the landings there, she returned to the New Guinea area for the operations in the western part of that island, taking part in the landings on Biak from 28 May to 17 June, at Cape Sansapor from 15 August to 18 August, and on Morotai on 15 September.

She sailed from Humboldt Bay on 10 October 1944 to join in the Leyte operation, and served on escort and patrol duty between Leyte and New Guinea until 15 December. After overhaul at Boston, Massachusetts, and refresher training in Casco Bay, Coronado sailed for Seattle, Washington, arriving there on 26 April 1945. She got underway for Alaska on 7 June, and on 25 June at Cold Bay, Alaska, received four Soviet officers and 45 men aboard for training.

Soviet Navy, 1945–1949

Coronado was decommissioned 12 July 1945 at Cold Bay, and transferred to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease, and was returned to the United States at Yokosuka on 16 October 1949.

Japanese Navy, 1953–1971

Coronado was placed in reserve there until 14 January 1953 when she was transferred on loan to Japan under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program. She served in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force as Sugi (PF 285) until decommissioned on 31 March 1969, and was returned to U.S. custody on 9 July 1971. Fate unknown.

Awards

Coronado received four battle stars for her World War II service: the Bismarck Archipelago operation, the Hollandia operation, the Western New Guinea operation, and the Leyte Gulf operation.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links

• Photo gallery of USS Coronado (PF-38) at NavSource Naval History
• hazegray.org: USS Coronado PF-38