NAVY KNOWLEDGE

For pictures of model boat plans and detailed information on small ships
see the book Sea Bag of Memories

PC Patrol Craft

PC Patrol Craft Specifications of the PC 461 Class:

Steel hull
Length Overall: 173' 8"
Extreme Beam: 23
Displacement: 450 tons
Maximum Draft: 10' 10"
Complement: 60 men and 5 officers
Armament: One 3"-50 caliber gun, one single 40-mm Bofors machine gun, five 20-mm Oerlikon machine guns, two forward throwing mousetraps, two K-guns, and two stern mounted depth charge racks.
Designed Speed: 20.2 knots
Engines: Two Diesels: Fairbanks Morse & Co. Model 38D-a, General Motors
Corp. Model 16-2588-A, "V" type, Hooven, Owens, Rentshler Co. (H.O.R.)
Model 9DA-A.
Shafts: Two. One hydraulic coupling and reduction gear on each shaft.
Auxiliary Engines: Two Diesels. G. M. Model 6-71. Buda Model 6DHG-
691Diesel engines.

PGM Motor Gunboat ex PC

PGM Specifications for PGM 12, ex PC 1088

Complement: 59 officers and enlisted men
Armament: One twin 40-mm gun mount, six 20-mm, one twin .50 cal. machine
gun, one 60-mm mortar
Propulsion: Two General Motors 16-278A diesel engines, two shafts.

AM Minesweeper ex PC

The internal configuration was similar to that on PCs, except that they used different kinds of Diesel engines and their deck gear differed. Trawl gear was added near the depth charge racks. The ships proved inadequate as minesweepers and the Navy reconverted them into PCs.

AM ex PC Specifications

Specifications below are for AM 90.

PCE Patrol Craft Escort Specifications (63 were built)

Specifications below are for PCE 845.

Length: 184' 6"
Beam: 33'1"
Draft: 9' 8"
Displacement: 903 tons full load
Speed: 16 knots
Engines: GM Diesel 12-278A
Complement: 9 officers, 90 enlisted men
Armament: One 3"-50, three 40-mm Bofors, five 20-mm Oerlikons, Hedgehog,
four depth charge throwers, two depth charge racks

AM Fleet Minesweeper (Similar to a PCE)

These ships used the same hull, engines, and superstructure as the PCE.
The fantail was modified for mine sweep gear including davits and winches
for streaming sweep gear. To accommodate this gear, the aft gun tub on the
PCE design was removed and replaced by two twin 40-mm gun tubs on the aft
end of the main deck.

AM Minesweeper (PCE type) Specifications (121 were built)

Complement: 11 officers, 93 enlisted men
Armament: One 3"-50 gun, two twin 40-mm, Hedgehog, depth charge racks.

SC Submarine Chaser

SC Subchaser Specifications (438 were built)

Wooden hull
The specifications below are for SC 1009.
Length Overall:110' 10"
Extreme Beam: 17' 11.5"
Displacement: 98 Tons
Maximum Draft full load: 6' 6"
Speed: 15.6 knots or 21 knots depending on engines used
Complement: 3 officers, 24 enlisted men
Armament one Single 3"-50 or one single 40-mm Bofor, one or two twin
mount .50-cal machine gun(s), two or three K Guns, 14 Depth Charges with
six single release chocks, two sets of MK20 Mousetrap rails with four 7.2
projectiles
Propulsion: Two 880 hp General Motors 8-268A or two 1,540 hp General
Motors 16-184A "pancake" diesel engines.

PGM Motor Gunboat ex SC

The Navy converted some SCs to gunboats. They had similar
construction and configuration as SCs, but the engines were the pancake type.
The designers replaced the SC pilot house with an open cockpit, and added a
folding radar mast. Additional armor was placed around gun stations. The
armament of the PGM differed from an SC armament as shown below.
PGM, ex SC 1071 Specifications (8 were converted from SC hulls)
Complement: 50 officers and enlisted men
Armament: One single 3"-50, two twin 40-mm Bofors, six 20-mm Oerlikons,
one twin .50 cal. machine gun, one 60-mm Mortar
Engines: Two General Motors 16-184A "pancake"diesel engines.

PCS Patrol Craft Sweeper

PCS Patrol Craft Sweeper Specifications (59 were built)

Wooden hulls
Length: 136'
Beam: 24' 6"
Displacement: 251 tons
Draft: 8' 7"
Engines: Two geared diesel engines.
Speed: 14 knots
Complement: 57 enlisted men and officers
Armament: Main Battery One 3"-50, one 40-mm Bofors, two 20-mm
Oerlikons, four K-gun depth charge throwers.

YMS Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper

YMS Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper Specifications (561 were built)

Wooden hull
Displacement: 320 tons (full displacement)
Length: 136'
Beam: 24'6"
Draft: 6'1"
Speed: 13 knots
Armament: One 3"-50, two 20-mm Oerlikons, two depth charge racks plus two
extensions, two depth charge throwers
Complement: 4 officers, 29 enlisted men
Engines: Two General Motors Diesel engines.

PY Pyc ex Yachts

Specifications for PY 14 USS Argus

Specifications for PYc 28 USS Ability.

YP Yard Patrol

These vessels were of numerous types and sizes. The Navy used them for harbor patrol and miscellaneous duties. No one type fits all those in use during World War II.

Coast Guard Cutters

A cutter is defined as a U. S. Coast Guard vessel of 65 feet or more in length that has a designated commanding officer and living accommodations aboard for the crew. During World War II the Coast Guard operated various size cutters. Many of them can be considered small ocean going ships. Two types selected here are representative of all cutters. They are the 165 foot WPC and the 125 foot WSC.

WPC Cutters built before WWII

These were one of the more important Coast Guard subchasers. The United States built them during the Prohibition era to interdict smugglers. They also were used on ice patrol. Later the Navy converted them into subchasers.

Specifications for the 165' US Coast Guard Cutter type designated WPC

Steel hull
Displacement: (tons) 337 full load (1934); 350 fullload (1945)
Length: 165'
Beam: 25' 3"
Draft: 7' 8" trial (1931); 7' max (1934); 10' max (1945)
Main Engines: 2 Winton, 6-cyl. Model 158 diesels
Maximum Speed:16.0 knots on trial (1931)
Complement: (1945) 5 officers, 39 enlisted men (1938); 7 officers, 68 enlisted
men (1945)
Armament:1932 and 1938: one 3"-23, two one-pounders. 1941: one 3"-23, one
Y-gun, two depth charge racks. 1945: two 3"-50, two 20-mm, two depth
charge racks, two Y-guns, two Mousetraps.

WSC Cutters built before WWII

Specifications for the 125' US Coast Guard Cutter type designated WSC

Tons of model boat plans and detailed information on small ships
see the book: Sea Bag of Memories