USS Natchez (PG-102)

USS "Natchez" (PG-102) was a Asheville class patrol frigate acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was designed for patrol and convoy duty, and served her country in the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Oceans. [Log of USS Denver http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/denver/logoct44.htm]

"Natchez" was laid down 16 March 1942 by Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal, Canada as HMS|Annan|K297|6, later designated as HMCS "Annan"; acquired by the U.S. Navy 20 July 1942 and classified as "Natchez" (PG-102) on 8 October 1942; launched 12 September 1942, and commissioned at Ottawa, Canada 16 December 1942.

World War II North Atlantic operations

"Natchez" sailed under escort to Boston, Massachusetts, arriving at the Boston Navy Yard 16 January 1943 for fitting out. On 1 March she reported for duty to Commander Eastern Sea Frontier and was assigned escort duty for merchant convoys between Cuba and New York. "Natchez" was reclassified as PF-2 on 15 April 1943.

Rescuing survivors in the water

On 4 December, Cuban freighter SS|Libertad was reported missing from her convoy off the southern Atlantic coast. "Natchez" with several other patrol vessels, was dispatched to the scene, guided by homing signals from Navy blimps. "Natchez" found only three survivors who related that their ship had been torpedoed and sank before they could notify the convoy commander.

inking of German U-boat "U-548"

Through 1944, "Natchez" escorted convoys and performed ASW patrol duties. While on convoy duty 29 April 1943, she simultaneously received a sonar contact and sighted the snorkel of a German U-boat, 98 miles east of Cape Henry, Virginia. Launching an immediate attack, she was quickly joined by three destroyer escorts: USS|Coffman|DE-191|2, USS|Bostwick|DE-103|2 and USS|Thomas|DE-102|2. Hedgehogs and depth charges erupted large areas of the ocean bottom as the four vessels sought to trap the enemy submarine. Finally contact was lost and a large quantity of oil was seen to rise to the surface, indicating destruction of the U-boat. German sources, at the end of the war, substantiated that "U-548" had been lost as a result of this attack.

End-of-war activity

At the end of the war, "Natchez" was still patrolling in the Atlantic. She returned to Charleston, South Carolina, 29 June 1945 for inactivation and disposal.

Decommissioning

She was delivered to the Maritime Commission, 19 November 1945 for disposal; Sold, 29 July 1947 to Louis Moore of Miami, Florida; Resold, 19 March 1948 to the Dominican Republic as "Juan Pablo Duarte"; Ran aground at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic in November 1949 and taken out of service due to damage; She was then sold to Félix Benítez, a Puerto Rican engineer, who repaired her and converted her to his personal yacht, the "Moineau". Her ultimate fate is unknown.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* Natchez (boat)
* Patrol boat

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/08002.htm NavSource Online Patrol Frigate Photo Archive - Natchez (PF 2)]

References