Eldrbarry's future Ship Model: U.S.S PCE-892
My static model of the PCE-892 Will be built using Dumas' Kit for the U.S.S. Whitehall.
PCE-892 Class Patrol Craft Escort:
Originally designed to be Submarine chasers, the PCE-892 was one of 17 converted to a Weather Ship with the addition of an Aerologic office, balloon inflation room and weather balloon launching platform. Operating in the region of the Philipines and Guam in 1946 - it may have provided weather data for the Atomic Testing . . .
The fourth Somerset (PCE-892) was laid down on 28 October 1942 by Williamette Iron & Steel Corp., Portland, Oreg.; launched on 1 May 1943; sponsored by Mrs. J. C. Dowling; and commissioned on 8 July 1944, Lt. Comdr. John F. Allen, USNR, in command.
PCE-892 sailed to San Diego and conducted shakedown training from 25 July to 27 August in the San Francisco Bay area. The escort then sailed to the Aleutian Islands and operated as a patrol ship from 2 September 1944 to 1 June 1945. She was in the Puget Sound Navy Yard from 2 June to 12 August being converted into an amphibious control ship.
PCE-892 sailed to Hawaii and entered Pearl Harbor Navy Yard for conversion into a weather ship on 20 August. She was ordered to the Marianas and assigned duty as a weather station ship. Using Guam as a base of operations, PCE-892 provided open ocean weather services between Guam, Kwajalein, and the Philippine Islands until August 1947. On the 13th, she sailed for the gulf coast, via Pearl Harbor, San Diego, and the Panama Canal.
Somerset arrived in New Orleans on 22 October 1947; was assigned to the 8th Naval District as a Naval Reserve training ship; and served in that capacity until 1955. In March 1955, she was placed out of commission, in reserve, with the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.
Somerset was struck from the Navy list on 1 June 1961 and transferred to the Republic of Korea on 13 December.
There were 68 Patrol Craft Escort vessels built and delivered to the US Navy and an additional 17 delivered under the Lend-Lease Program to Allies during World War II PCEs were an inexpensive substitute for larger and more valuable DD's and DE's. Though not much longer than the PC the 180 foot steel hulled PCE's tonnage is more than twice as great. Its speed is 15 knots, diesel propelled and armed with a dual-purpose 3"/50 gun, three 40mm guns, five 20mm guns, two depth charge tracks, and ten K-Guns. PCEs carried a considerable amount of detection and ranging gear for locating submarines. The PCE was designed for general escort work, whereas the PC normally stayed near harbors and worked only with coastal convoys. Some PCEs were converted to PCE(R), Rescue Escorts while others were converted to Amphibious Control Vessels, PCE(C).
- Laid down 28 October 1942 at Williamette Iron and Steel Corp., Portland, Oregon
- Launched 1 May 1943
- Commissioned USS PCE-892, 8 July 1944
- Reclassified as a Control Submarine Chaser, PCEC-892, 20 August 1945
- Reclassified back to a Patrol Craft Escort, PCE-892, 15 October 1945
- Decommissioned in October 1947 at New Orleans, LA and placed in service as a Naval Reserve training ship assigned to the 8th Naval District (New Orleans)
- Named Somerset 15 February 1955
- Placed out of service in March 1955 and laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet
- Struck form the Naval Register 1 June 1961
- Transferred 13 December 1961 on loan under the Military Assistance Program to South Korea and renamed Ryul Po (PCE 58) Fate unknown.
Specifications:
- Displacement 640 t.
- Length 180' 6"
- Beam 33'
- Draft 9' 8"
- Speed 15 kts.
- Complement 100
- Armament: One 3"/50 dual purpose mount, three 40mm mounts, five 20mm mounts, two depth charge tracks, four depth charge projectors, and two depth charge projectors (hedgehogs)
- Propulsion: Two 900bhp General Motors 12-567A diesel engines, Falk single reduction gear, two shafts.
Photo's - many from my father's Navy Album
Informtion of Patrol Escort Class
WWII Submarine chasers and Escort vessels
Eldrbarry's Home Page - Contact Barry McWilliams at eldrbarry@eldrbarry.net