USS Sandusky (PF-54)

USS "Sandusky" (PF-54), a "Tacoma"-class frigate, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the Sandusky River, which rises in Richland County, Ohio, and flows west and then north for some 150 miles before emptying into Lake Erie at Sandusky, Ohio.

"Sandusky" (PF-54), originally classified PG-162, was reclassified PF-54 on 15 April 1943; laid down on 8 July 1943 under Maritime Commission contract by Froemming Brothers, Inc., in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; launched on 5 October 1943, sponsored by Miss Mabel Apel; and commissioned on 18 April 1944 at New Orleans, Louisiana, with Lieutenant Commander T. R. Sargent, III, USCG, in command.

After shakedown at Bermuda and overhaul at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, "Sandusky" departed for the Pacific on 18 August 1944, escorting a convoy from New York to Finschhafen and Hollandia, New Guinea. After completing her long convoy voyage on 2 October, she proceeded to Morotai, conducting anti-submarine patrols there for the rest of the month. From November 1944 through February 1945, she escorted convoys between Hollandia and Leyte in support of the troops occupying the Philippines. After escorting a convoy to Lingayen Gulf, she sailed from Leyte on 8 March 1945 for Seattle, Washington. Following overhaul, she proceeded to Alaska, arriving in Cold Bay on 15 June. She was decommissioned on 12 July 1945, and was transferred to the Soviet Union under Lend Lease the next day as EK-10.

"Sandusky" was returned to United States custody on 15 October 1949; and, after a period in reserve, was loaned to Japan on 26 February 1953 as "Nire". She was struck from the Navy list on 1 December 1961 and was transferred outright to Japan on 28 August 1962. She was returned to the United States on 31 March 1970 for disposal.

"Sandusky" earned two battle stars for her World War II service.

See also

See USS "Sandusky" for other ships of this name.

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s5/sandusky.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Sandusky"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/08054.htm navsource.org: USS "Sandusky"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/patrol/pf54.htm hazegray.org: USS "Sandusky"]