Tacoma-class frigate

USS Peoria (PF-67) in June 1945.
Class overview
Operators	United States Navy Royal Navy Soviet Navy Argentine Navy Belgian Navy Colombian National Navy Cuban Revolutionary Navy Dominican Navy Ecuadorian Navy French Navy Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Republic of Korea Navy Mexican Navy Royal Netherlands Navy Peruvian Navy Royal Thai Navy
Built	1943–1945
In commission	1943–1953
Completed	96
General characteristics
Type	Frigate
Displacement	1,264 long tons (1,284 t)
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 × boilers 2 × reciprocating steam engines, 2 shafts
Speed	20 knots (37 km/h)
Complement	190
Armament	• 3 × 3 inch/50 AA guns (3x1) • 4 × 40 mm guns (2x2) • 9 × 20 mm (9x1) • 1 × Hedgehog projector • 8 × Y gun depth charge projectors • 2 × Depth charge racks

The Tacoma class of patrol frigates served in the US Navy during World War II. Named for Tacoma, Washington, the Tacoma class design was based on the British River class frigates, primarily distinguished by the pole foremast (instead of the British tripod) and lighter main guns (3" instead of the British 4"). Unlike most other types of warships, the Tacomas were built to mercantile standards, which resulted in weaker vessels but enabled them to be built quickly, and in Maritime Commission shipyards rather than the Navy's own yards. Many of these ships were commanded by U.S. Coast Guard officer teams.

These ships were designed and armed mostly as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships.

96 were built, of which 21 were lent to the Royal Navy. The Royal Navy Tacomas were renamed after British colonies and were known collectively as Colony class frigates.

Late in the war, another 28 were lent to the Soviet Navy in preparation for the possible invasion of Japan, which was cancelled by the Japanese surrender on 14 August 1945. In the postwar era, many Tacoma class frigates were sold to friendly nations such as Mexico, Peru, South Korea, France, Greece, Cuba, and Taiwan.

External links

Media related to Tacoma class frigates at Wikimedia Commons

• "PF-1 Tacoma" at GlobalSecurity.org
• "PG-111/PF-3 Tacoma" at NavSource Online
• history.navy.mil: USS Tacoma

Gallery

• 
  USS Tacoma (PF-3)
• 
  USS Pocatello (PF-9)
• 
  USS Grand Forks (PF-11)
• 
  USS Covington (PF-56) (left) and the USS Lorain (PF-93)
• 
  USS Glendale (PF-36) and USS Gallup (PF-47)
• 
  USS Hutchinson (PF-45)
• 
  USS Bisbee (PF-46)
• 
  USS Burlington (PF-51)