PC-461-class submarine chaser
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators | list error: <br /> list (help) United States Navy French Navy Brazilian Navy National Navy of Uruguay Royal Norwegian Navy Royal Netherlands Navy Hellenic Navy |
| 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 |
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 actually sank a submarine 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.
Lend-Lease program
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, 8 to Brazil, 1 to Uruguay, 1 to Norway, 1 to the Netherlands, and 1 to Greece.
Conversions
Twenty-four PC-461s were converted to patrol gunboats, motor (PGM) and 35 were converted into amphibious control craft (PCC).
See also
References
- Friedman, Norman (1987). "US Small Combatants, Including PT-Boats, Subchasers, and the Brown-Water Navy: An Illustrated Design History"