# PCE-842-class patrol craft

PCEC-872 :
| Class overview ||
| Builders | Pullman Company, IL (34) Albina Engine Works, OR (20) Willamette Iron & Steel, OR (14) |
| Operators | United States Navy  United States Coast Guard  Royal Navy  Republic of Korea Navy  Mexican Navy  Ecuadorian Navy  Colombian National Navy  Republic of Vietnam Navy  Republic of China Navy  Cuban Revolutionary Navy  Philippine Navy  Myanmar Navy |
| Subclasses | Roofdier-class frigate Malvar-class corvette |
| Built | 1942–1945 |
| Completed | 68 |
| Preserved | ~2 |
| General characteristics ||
| Displacement | 850 long tons (860 t) standard, 903 long tons (917 t) full load |
| Length | 180 ft (54.86 m) wl 184 ft 6 in (56.24 m) oa |
| Beam | 33 ft 1 in (10.08 m) |
| Draft | 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m) |
| Propulsion | 2 diesel engines, 2 shafts 2,000 bhp (1,500 kW) total |
| Speed | 15.7 kn (29.1 km/h; 18.1 mph) |
| Range | 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Complement | 96 |
| Armament | 1 × 3"/50 caliber gun 6 × Bofors 40 mm guns (3 twin mounts) 4 × 20 mm guns 1 × Hedgehog anti-submarine projector Depth charges |
The PCE-842-class patrol craft escort was a United States Navy (USN) ship class of submarine chasers designed during World War II. The PCE-842-class was the only class ever designated by the USN as the "patrol craft escort" (PCE) type (a PCE-905-class was planned, but none of the operational vessels served under the nominal class). The PCE design was derived from the 180-foot (55 m) Admirable-class minesweeper to complement the 173-foot (53 m) PC-461-class submarine chasers that were used for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) in coastal areas. At 185 feet long and 640 tons, the PCE is more than twice the displacement of the PC but with a less powerful engine also much slower; however, because of its larger size, the PCE was able to undertake longer-range tasks over PC-461-class vessels. The USN envisaged the PCE as enabling PCs and smaller vessels to undertake coastal patrols without being called-upon as often to perform open ocean and convoy escort duties, while simultaneously freeing-up some larger vessels - such as destroyer escorts and destroyers - from convoy ASW duties. The PCE-482-class had a standard crew complement of 99 officers and men. The class would ultimately see 68 total vessels built, serving with multiple navies around the world.

## Development and design

The Admirable class had been developed as a smaller minesweeper than the Raven-class and Auk-class minesweepers, which would be cheaper and easier to build, while still having good seakeeping capabilities in high seas. An escort derivative of the new design was proposed for supply under the Lend-Lease scheme to Britain's Royal Navy (which had already rejected the Admirable class as minesweepers), and when the United States Navy realized that a shortage of engines might prevent it from receiving additional PC-461-class submarine chasers beyond those already on order, it was decided to build the escort variant, designated as Patrol Craft Escort (PCE) for both the US Navy and Royal Navy.
The ships were 184 ft 6 in (56.24 m) long overall and 180 ft 0 in (54.86 m) between perpendiculars, with a beam of 33 ft 1 in (10.08 m) and a draft of 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m). Displacement was 850 long tons (860 t) standard and 903 long tons (917 t) full load. They were powered by two 1,000 horsepower (750 kW) General Motors 12-278A diesel engines driving two shafts via single reduction gearing. This gave a speed of 15.7 kn (18.1 mph; 29.1 km/h). The ships had a range of 8,500 nmi (9,800 mi; 15,700 km) at 12 kn (14 mph; 22 km/h).
The normal armament on completion consisted of a single 3 in (76 mm) gun forward, two 40 mm anti-aircraft guns, backed up by 4 or 5 Oerlikon 20 mm cannon. A Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar was mounted between the 3 inch gun and the ship's bridge, while depth charge projectors and rails were mounted on the ships' fantail. Later ships were fitted with a third Bofors gun and additional Oerlikons, while ships were later modified to mount three twin Bofors mounts and four Oerlikons. Some ships (including PCE-867) were armed with two 3-inch guns and three Oerlikons.

## Detection equipment

The class was fitted with radar, sonar and other detection equipment for ASW.

## Conversions

Some PCEs were later converted to Rescue Escorts, PCE(R), and to Amphibious Control Vessels, PCE(C), which were used in many U.S. amphibious landing operations during World War II, especially Leyte Gulf and Normandy. Two such ships, which were converted to Rescue Escorts, were the USS Somersworth and USS Fairview, both of which were present at the surrender of Japan in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945.

## Production

Sixty-eight Patrol Craft Escorts were built for the US Navy, and seventeen were delivered under the Lend-Lease Program to Allies during World War II. The PCEs proved to be an inexpensive substitute for larger and more valuable destroyers and destroyer escorts in convoy escort work.

## Philippine Navy

As of 2014, the Philippine Navy still operates the Miguel Malvar class with six PCEs as gun corvettes, with all the ships' ASW equipment already removed. The PCE is the most numerous major ship class of the Philippine Navy that, at one time, numbered more than ten vessels.

## Ships

68 boats listed: 827 ... 860, 867 ... 886, 891 ... 904
| Ship name | Hull number | Builder | Original navy of service | Comm. | Decomm. | Status |
| Kilbernie | PCE-827 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | Royal Navy | 16 July 1943 | June 1945 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1947; sold for scrap, August 1997 |
| Kilbride | PCE-828 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | Royal Navy | 31 July 1943 | 1945 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1947; sold for scrap, 1988 |
| Kilchatten | PCE-829 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | Royal Navy | 16 August 1943 | 12 July 1945 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1947; sold for scrap, 1983 |
| Kilchrenan | PCE-830 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | Royal Navy | 31 August 1943 | 1945 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1947; currently in service as of 2019 as a ferry. After conversion to ferry and passenger boat she sailed under the name MS Sunnhordland, a name she still carries. The ship was fully restored in 2016 and is now operating as a historic ship at the west coast of Norway. |
| Kildary | PCE-831 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | Royal Navy | 14 September 1943 | 1945 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1947; sold for scrap, 1980 |
| Kildwick | PCE-832 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | Royal Navy | 27 September 1943 | 1945 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1947; sunk while under tow, October 1983 |
| Kilham | PCE-833 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | Royal Navy | 9 October 1943 | 1945 | Built in 1943 for the US Navy by the Pullman Car Company. Constructed of reinforced steel. Laid down 1943 February 26 as PCE-833 by the Pullman Standard Car Co., Chicago, IL. Launched 1943 August. Transferred 1943 October To Great Britain and commissioned HMS Kilham (Z 07); Reclassified BEC-7. Returned 1946 to U.S. custody in December; Struck from the Navy Register in 1947. Sold 1949 to S/A Investment (FylkesbaataneSogne og Fjordane, Mgrs.) of Bergen, Norway. Converted 1950 renamed M/S Sognefjord passenger ship. Sold 1958 to FylkesbataaneSogne og Fjordane of Bergen; Operated on the Norwegian west coast until 1982. Sold 1982 to Filmeffekt A/S of Oslo, Norway, and renamed Orion. Sold 1984 to K/S Orion Film A/S of Bergen and laid up. Sold 1987 to Matkat OY of Helsingfors, Finland. Sold 1991 to Orion Risteilyt O/Y of Hamina, Finland, and renamed Orion II. Sold 1996 to Jaako Mathias Eriksson of Honduras. Sold 1997 renamed ORIENT EXPLORER. Listed for sale in Sabah, Malaysia, 2019 for $129,000. |
| Kilkenzie | PCE-834 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | Royal Navy | 20 October 1943 | July 1945 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1948; sold for scrap, 1978 |
| Kilkhampton | PCE-835 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | Royal Navy | 30 Oct 1943 | 1945 | Returned to the United States, December 1946; fate unknown |
| Kilmacolm | PCE-836 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | Royal Navy | 6 November 1943 | 1945 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1952; fate unknown |
| Kilmarnock | PCE-837 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | Royal Navy | 13 November 1943 | 1945 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1949; wrecked 5 January 1951 |
| Kilmartin | PCE-838 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | Royal Navy | 11 December 1943 | 1945 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1947; sold for scrap, 12 June 1969 |
| Kilmelford | PCE-839 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | Royal Navy | 8 December 1943 | 1945 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1949; fate unknown |
| Kilmington | PCE-840 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | Royal Navy | 11 December 1943 | 1945 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1951; sold for scrap, 2007 |
| Kilmore | PCE-841 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | Royal Navy | 24 December 1943 | 1945 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1947; fate unknown |
| Marfa | PCE-842 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States Navy | 29 January 1944 | 17 August 1955 | Transferred to South Korea, 18 December 1961; Sunk by North Korean shore battery fire, 19 January 1967 |
| Skowhegan | PCE-843 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States Navy | 30 January 1944 | March 1955 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1961; fate unknown |
| n/a | PCE-844 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States Navy | 18 February 1944 | November 1947 | sold to the Mexican Navy and named ARM Pedro Sainz De Barandas (PO 123). Fate unknown. |
| Worland | PCE-845 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States Navy | 1 March 1944 | 25 May 1964 | Transferred to United States Navy Reserve as Naval Reserve Training Ship for 9th Naval District (Chicago) on 11 December 1950 and served on the Great Lakes. Transferred to State of North Carolina, Cape Fear Technical Institute, Wilmington, NC, 6 August 1964 and renamed R/V Advance II. Sold in 1980 to the Standard Products Co., Inc. of Wilmington, North Carolina. Donated to the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries 15 October 1993. Sunk 21 June 1994 off Kitty Hawk (Artificial Reef 145) as part of their artificial reef program. |
| Eunice | PCE 846 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States Navy | 4 March 1944 | Unknown | Transferred to Ecuador, 29 November 1960; fate unknown |
| n/a | PCE-847 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States Navy | 18 March 1944 | Unknown | Transferred to Mexico, November 1947; fate unknown |
| n/a | PCE-848 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States Navy | 30 March 1944 | March 1946 | Sold for scrap, January 1947 |
| Somersworth | PCE-849 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States Navy | 11 April 1944 | September 1965 | Sold for scrap, 1972 |
| Fairview | PCE-850 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States Navy | 17 April 1944 | 1 May 1968 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1969; fate unknown |
| Rockville | PCE-851 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States Navy | 15 May 1944 | 21 December 1968 | Transferred to Colombia, 1969 as ARC San Andres (BO 151) before being sent to the Colombian Coast Guard. Decommissioned in the late 1980s. |
| Brattleboro | PCE-852 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States Navy | 26 May 1944 | 1 November 1965 | Transferred to South Vietnam, 11 July 1966; later fled to the Philippines in 1975 after the fall of South Vietnam; Active as of 2021 November |
| Amherst | PCE-853 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States Navy | 15 June 1944 | 6 February 1970 | Transferred to South Vietnam, 3 June 1970; later fled to the Philippines in 1975 after the fall of South Vietnam; served in PhN as BRP Datu Marikudo, decommissioned 2010 Dec 9; equipment stripped for spares, hull sold for scrap |
| n/a | PCE-854 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States Navy | 4 January 1945 | 1945 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1945; fate unknown |
| Rexburg | PCE-855 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States Navy | 1 November 1944 | 2 March 1970 | Sold to a commercial interest, 28 October 1970; last documented, 2009; fate unknown |
| Whitehall | PCE-856 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States Navy | 11 November 1944 | 1 July 1970 | Transferred to United States Navy Reserve as Naval Reserve Training Ship for 4th Naval District (Philadelphia) July 1946. Decommissioned 1 July 1970 and sold to Eastern Seaboard Pile-Driving of Montvale and renamed Donna Marie. Converted to a tug in 1974. Sold to Standard Products Co. Inc. of Reedsville, Virginia, and renamed Atlantic Surf in 1980. Sold to Omega Protein Inc. of Hammond, Louisiana, and renamed Atlantic Shore. Fate unknown. |
| Marysville | PCE-857 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States Navy | 26 April 1945 | July 1970 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1975; last documented, 1995; fate unknown |
| Jackson | PCE-858 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States NavyUnited States Coast Guard | 16 May 1945 | 24 July 1947 | Transferred to United States Coast Guard to replace the sunken USCGC Jackson (WSC-142). Renamed USCGC Jackson (WPC-120), she was berthed at Curtis Bay, Maryland, until decommission due to lack of crew. Sold to a commercial interest, 23 December 1947; fate unknown |
| n/a | PCE-859 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States Navy | 10 March 1945 | 1947 | Fate unknown |
| n/a | PCE-860 | Pullman Company, Chicago, Illinois | United States Navy | 31 March 1945 | April 1946 | recommissioned as USCGC Bedloe (WPC-121) |
| n/a | PCE-867 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 20 June 1943 | Unknown | Transferred to the Republic of China, 7 February 1948; damaged in action with Communist Chinese forces 14 November 1965 and later scrapped |
| n/a | PCE-868 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 31 August 1943 | 29 October 1947 | Transferred to Mexico, 8 November 1947; sold for scrap, 1995 |
| n/a | PCE-869 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 19 September 1943 | 1 July 1971 | Transferred to Republic of China, 28 August 1945; fate unknown |
| Dania | PCE-870 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 5 October 1943 | 18 October 1946 | Transferred to South Korea, 9 December 1961; fate unknown |
| n/a | PCE-871 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 29 October 1943 | 24 November 1947 | Transferred to Mexico, 24 November 1947; sold for scrap, 1965 |
| n/a | PCE-872 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 29 November 1943 | Unknown | Transferred to Cuba, 1 October 1947; fate unknown |
| n/a | PCE-873 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 15 December 1943 | 1947 | Transferred to South Korea, 1 November 1974; fate unknown |
| Pascagoula | PCE-874 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 31 December 1943 | 1 May 1959 | Transferred to Ecuador, 5 December 1960; fate unknown |
| n/a | PCE-875 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 19 January 1944 | Unknown | Transferred to Mexico, November 1947; fate unknown |
| Lodestone | PCE-876 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 10 June 1944 | 21 February 1975 | Sold for scrap, 1 May 1976 |
| Havre | PCE-877 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 14 February 1944 | 1 July 1970 | Transferred to United States Navy Reserve as Naval Reserve Training Ship for 9th Naval District (Chicago) in April 1954 and served on the Great Lakes until struck from Navy list 1 July 1970. Fate unknown. |
| Buttress | PCE-878 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 13 March 1944 | 24 February 1947 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1952; sunk as a target, 1990s |
| Magnet | PCE-879 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 10 July 1944 | 1975 | Sunk as a target 4 March 1976 |
| Ely | PCE-880 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 29 April 1944 | 1 July 1970 | Transferred to United States Navy Reserve as Naval Reserve Training Ship for 9th Naval District (Chicago) in August 1947 and served on the Great Lakes. Transferred 3 September 1970 to the State of Maine (Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute) South Portland, ME and renamed R/V Aqualab II. Sold in 1972 to Kirks Marine Enterprise, Inc. of Dover, Delaware. Sold in 1975 to Norman Industries, Inc. of Lafayette, Louisiana. Acquired in 1978 by Standard Products Co., Inc. of Kilmarnock, Virginia, and renamed Atlantic Mist. Acquired in 1989 by Ampro Fisheries, Inc. of Burgess, Virginia. Acquired by Omega Protein, Inc. of Moss Point, Mississippi. Sunk 16 January 2010 as part of an artificial reef approximately 26 miles southeast of Indian River Inlet, Delaware. |
| n/a | PCE-881 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 31 July 1944 | Unknown | Transferred to the Philippines, July 1948; commissioned as BRP Cebu, decommissioned 1 Oct 2019 |
| n/a | PCE-882 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 23 February 1945 | Unknown | Transferred to South Korea, 1 November 1974; fate unknown |
| Deperm | PCE-883 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 1945 | 21 February 1975 | Sunk as a target, 22 September 1982 |
| n/a | PCE-884 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 30 March 1945 | Unknown | Transferred to the Philippines, in June 1948; commissioned as BRP Negros Occidental, decommissioned 2010 Dec 9, equipment stripped for spares, hull sold for scrap |
| n/a | PCE-885 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 30 April 1945 | Unknown | Transferred to the Philippines, 1 June 1948; commissioned as RPS Leyte, ran aground and sank, 1979 |
| Banning | PCE-886 | Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 31 May 1945 | 1 May 1961 | Became a museum ship, July 1961; sold to a commercial interest, 1972; sank, 1 October 1973 |
| n/a | PCE-891 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 15 June 1944 | Unknown | Transferred to the Philippines, 1 June 1948; commissioned as BRP Pangasinan, decommissioned 2021 Mar 1. Sunk as a target on 26 April 2023 as part of the Balikatan 2023 exercise. |
| Somerset | PCE-892 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 8 July 1944 | March 1955 | Transferred to South Korea, 13 December 1961; fate unknown |
| n/a | PCE-893 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 25 July 1944 | 20 November 1947 | Transferred to Cuba, 20 November 1947; fate unknown |
| Farmington | PCE-894 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 10 August 1944 | 19 December 1947 | Transferred to United States Navy Reserve as Naval Reserve Training Ship for 9th Naval District (Chicago) in 1948 and served on the Great Lakes. Removed from Navy List on 1 December 1964. Transferred to Burma, 31 May 1965; sold for scrap, 2000 |
| Crestview | PCE-895 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 30 October 1944 | Unknown | Transferred to South Vietnam 29 November 1961; escaped to the Philippines, 1975; commissioned in PhN as BRP Sultan Kudarat, retired 2019 July 5 |
| n/a | PCE-896 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 27 November 1944 | Unknown | Transferred to South Korea, 1 November 1974; fate unknown |
| n/a | PCE-897 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 6 January 1945 | Unknown | Transferred to the Philippines in April 1948; commissioned in PhN as BRP Iloilo, decommissioned 2016 Sep, equipment stripped for spares, hull awaiting disposal |
| n/a | PCE-898 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 24 January 1945 | Unknown | Transferred to South Korea 1 November 1974; fate unknown |
| Lamar | PCE-899 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 17 March 1945 | 30 September 1969 | Transferred to United States Navy Reserve as Naval Reserve Training Ship for 9th Naval District (Milwaukee) on 13 December 1950 and served on the Great Lakes. Transferred to U.S. Coast Guard 29 July 1964. Arrived Monterey, California 14 December 1965 as training vessel. Decommissioned 30 September 1969. Sold as scrap to Foison Industries Corporation in Taiwan 8 November 1971. |
| Groton | PCE-900 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 12 April 1944 | 19 August 1955 | Sold to a commercial interest, 1975; abandoned near Reedville, Virginia |
| Parris Island | PCE-901 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 30 October 1944 | 19 June 1947 | Sold to a commercial interest, 20 January 1948; sold for scrap, 1990 |
| Portage | PCE-902 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 30 April 1945 | 1949 | Transferred to United States Navy Reserve as Naval Reserve Training Ship for 9th Naval District (Milwaukee) 7 May 1950 and served on the Great Lakes until struck from Navy list 1 July 1970. Sold to Standard Products Co., Inc. of Kilmarnock, Virginia, and renamed Atlantic Venture. Acquired in 1989 by Ampro Fisheries, Inc. of Burgess, Virginia. Fate unknown. |
| Batesburg | PCE-903 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 16 May 1945 | 6 September 1955 | Transferred to South Korea, 13 December 1961; fate unknown |
| Gettysburg | PCE-904 | Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon | United States Navy | 31 May 1945 | 2 September 1955 | Sold for scrap 23 June 1960 |