Shipbuilding History

(SC, PC, PCE, PCER, PCS)

A total of 973 sub chasers and related craft were built during WWII, by 74 boatbuilders and yachtbuilders. There were five basic types, all using a single series of pennant numbers. The SCs were 110-foot wooden Sub Chasers. The PCs were 173-foot steel Patrol Craft, primarily used for coastal duties. The PCEs and PCERs were heavier 180-foot patrol craft - OPVs in today's terminology - primarily used for Escort and Rescue duties. The PCSs were PCs modified for Sweeping mines. More than 400 of these boats were transferred to allied navies, either during or after the war: the major recipients were the USSR (91 boats), the Free French (88), the Philippines (36), Taiwan (36), South Korea (23), Mexico (18), Brazil (16), Britain (15) and Venezuela (13), with smaller quantities going to Burma, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Greece, Honduras, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay and Vietnam. Another 70 were converted to Air-Sea-Rescue boats (WAVR) for the Coast Guard and 31 were converted to Yard Minesweepers (YMS). At least 40 were reported as lost in action, but this does not include all the boats that were damaged and abandoned, scuttled or otherwise destroyed. Finally, 15 of these boats were destroyed by typhoon Louise on 9-Oct-45. Almost all the rest were turned over to either MARCOM (now MARAD) or the Department of State's Foreign Liquidation Commission (FLC) for disposal and little is known of what happened to them.