USS Brownsville

USS Brownsville (PG-118/PF-10), a Tacoma-class patrol frigate, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Brownsville, Texas.

USS Brownsville (PF-10) at Mare Island on 15 June 1944. In the background are the stern of the French Armed Merchant Cruiser Cap Des Palmes and USS Aries (AK-51)
History
United States
NameBrownsville
NamesakeCity of Brownsville, Texas
ReclassifiedPatrol Frigate (PF), 15 April 1943
Orderedas a Type S2-S2-AQ1 hull, MCE hull 1428[1]
BuilderPermanente Metals Richmond Shipyard #4, Richmond, California
Yard number53[1]
Laid down14 September 1943
Launched14 November 1943
Commissioned6 May 1944
Decommissioned15 April 1946
Identification
FateLoaned to the US Coast Guard
United States
NameBrownsville
CommissionedApril 1946
Decommissioned2 August 1946
Stricken25 September 1946
FateSold for scrapping, 30 September 1947
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeTacoma-class frigate patrol frigate
Displacement
  • 1,430 long tons (1,450 t) (light load)
  • 2,415 long tons (2,454 t) (full load)
Length303 ft 11 in (92.63 m)
Beam37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)
Draft13 ft 8 in (4.17 m)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed20.3 kn (37.6 km/h; 23.4 mph)
Complement190
Armament

Construction and commissioning

Brownsville, originally classified as patrol gunboat, PG-118, was reclassified as a patrol frigate, PF-10, on 15 April 1943. She was laid down on 14 September 1943, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 1428, at the Permanente Metals Richmond Shipyard #4, Richmond, California.[2] Brownsville was launched on 14 November 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Lillian Runyon Burney; and commissioned on 6 May 1944.[3]

Service history

United States Navy

Brownsville completed outfitting at Richmond, between 6 May and 19 June. At the end of this, on 19 June, the patrol frigate headed south to San Diego, where she engaged in a month of shakedown training. On 21 July, she completed that training and began post-shakedown availability at Alameda and Oakland, California. After several extensions, she completed her repair period near the end of September, and reported for duty at San Diego, on 28 September.[3]

Brownsville spent her entire, brief Navy career assigned to the Commander, Western Sea Frontier. From September 1944 to April 1945, she served in the Southern California Sector, operating out of San Diego. She conducted barrier patrols and escorted coastal shipping in addition to amphibious training and anti-submarine warfare exercises. After April 1945, the patrol frigate moved to the Northern California Sector and, after a brief assignment patrolling off the entrance to San Francisco Bay, began weather patrols and planeguard duty out of San Francisco. That duty, punctuated by repair periods at Treasure Island, lasted until 15 April 1946, when she was decommissioned, turned over to the Coast Guard on a loan basis, and commissioned as USCGC Brownsville.[3]

United States Coast Guard

The Coast Guard made use of her only until the following August. On 2 August 1946, she was decommissioned once more and later returned to the Navy. Declared surplus to the needs of the Navy, Brownsville was berthed at Seattle, Washington, for more than a year. Her name was struck from the Navy List on 25 September 1946, and she was sold to the Franklin Shipwrecking Company on 30 September 1947, for scrapping.[3]

References

Bibliography

  • "Brownsville". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 28 November 2005. Retrieved 14 November 2018.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "Kaiser Permanente No. 4, Richmond CA". ShipbuildingHistory.com. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  • "Brownsville (PF 10)". Navsource.org. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
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