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UNITED STATES NAVY (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

ESCORTS

"PCE" escorts (1943-1945)

PCE867 1945

Amherst 1963

Project history: Raven class minesweepers because of aspiration of a management of the American Navy to receive universal ships have appeared too big, difficult-to-build and, as consequence, expensive. In spring 1940 works on creation of more simple and cheap specialised minesweeper have begun, this ship should meet two basic requirements: seaworthiness and ability to work with a minesweeping gear in bad weather conditions and also to have a simple construction, allowing to build minesweepers in big numbers with the minimum expenses.

As starting point at creation of new ship the project of cardinal "simplified" Raven class was given. A double bottom have refused, and for preservation of damage tolerance the hull have increased on height and breadth. A separate diesel-generator was fitted for magnetic sweep, having refused from accepted on Auk class diesel-electric main machinery.

Calculations have shown, that new ships can be built faster, than Raven/Auk class, and will cost on third more cheaply. The order for their building for USN originally has not followed: according to a number of members of the General Bureau they not completely answered to requirements, shown to minesweepers. The project was offered to Royal Navy for delivery on lend-lease. According to requirements of Admiralty they received new bridges, other improvements are brought, however British all the same were delighted not with the project: they liked larger ships of Auk class more. During this moment sentence also has arrived to redesign "simplified" minesweepers into escorts, required as by Royal, as by US Navies. Removal of minesweeping equipment has allowed to install sonar, Hedgehog and DCTs. Though escorts in minesweeper hulls have appeared slow-speed, to their advantages it is possible to refer quite good seaworthiness and powerful armament (in any case they exceeded British anti-submarine trawlers, successfully used throughout war).

In November, 1941 the order for the first ships of Admirable class has followed: 20 ships in PCE variant and 30 as AM, 15 more РСЕ were intended for RN. In total were ordered 174 AM (AM136-165, 214-311, 351-366 and 391-420) and 108 РСЕ (РСЕ827-934). In 1944-1945 building of АМ227-231, 236, 237, 243-245, 290-293, 351-355, 358, 359, 391-420 and РСЕ861-866, 887-890, 905-960 was cancelled.

Modernizations: 1944, PCE882, 884 - 886, 897 - 900, 902 - 904; mid-1945, PCE842, 844 - 847, 870, 871, 874, 880, 881, 893 - 896: were converted to aircraft rescue ships and weather reconnaissance ships

1/1946, PCE: 1 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 22, (2 - 3) x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, (2 - 5) x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog Mk 10.11 ASWRL, 4 DCT, 2 DCR, SF or SO or SU radar, QHA sonar

1/1946, PCE(C), PCE(R):  1 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 22, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog Mk 10.11 ASWRL, 4 DCT, 2 DCR, SF or SO or SU radar, QHA sonar

Naval service: No significant events.

PCE893 1944

© Ivan Gogin, 2014-15