USS San Pedro (PF-37)

USS "San Pedro" (PF-37) [Patrol Craft Frigate] , a sclass|Tacoma|frigate, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for San Pedro, California.

"San Pedro" (PF-37), originally classified as PG-145 [Patrol Craft Gunboat] , was laid down under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1448) at the Consolidated Steel Corporation in Wilmington, California, on 17 April 1943; launched on 11 June 1943, sponsored by Miss Virginia Ann Massee; and commissioned on 23 October 1943, with Lieutenant Commander C. O. Ashley, USCG, in command.

Following shakedown, "San Pedro" sailed for the Southwest Pacific. She performed escort duty briefly in the Admiralty Islands at the beginning of April 1944; and at the end of the month, became part of forces attempting to consolidate the western New Guinea area. Her first mission took her to Hollandia, and she subsequently advanced to Biak in June, Noemfoor Island in July, and Cape Sansapor in August. During September, she escorted a convoy of tugs and barges to Morotai with sufficient equipment to set up a fully-equipped base for PT boats.

On 18 October, "San Pedro" sailed with a convoy bound for the initial assault on Leyte. She helped repulse Japanese air attacks after the 24th, shooting down two aircraft before the end of the month. While operations continued ashore, "San Pedro" escorted resupply convoys between Hollandia and Leyte. On 5 December, a single plane attacked one of these convoys near Leyte, torpedoed a Liberty ship SS|Antoine Saugrain,cite book | url = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/| title = The official chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II | chapter = Chapter VI: 1944 | chapterurl = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1944.html | first = Robert | last = Cressman | location = Annapolis, Maryland | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 2000 | isbn = 9781557501493 | oclc = 41977179 | accessdate = 2007-12-06 ] and escaped by flying through the convoy at masthead height. It then led a companion in for a re-attack and scored a second and fatal hit on the hapless merchant ship. "San Pedro" rescued 178 survivors and, at the same time, helped repulse a third attack on the sinking ship.

"San Pedro" departed the southwest Pacific on 17 December 1944 and headed toward Boston, Massachusetts, for overhaul. Upon completion of repairs in April, she started back to the Pacific, bound for the Aleutians. On 12 July 1945, she was decommissioned at Cold Bay, Alaska, and was turned over to the Soviet Navy the next day as EK-5.

She was returned to the United States on 17 October 1949 and was loaned to Japan on 2 April 1953 as "Kaya" (PF-288). She was struck from the Navy list on 1 December 1961 and transferred outright to Japan on 28 August 1962. Reclassified as an Auxiliary Stock Craft, YAC-23, the ship was decommissioned on 1 April 1977, and returned to United States custody 26 July 1978. Fate unknown.

"San Pedro" earned four battle stars for her World War II service. She is currently docked in San Pedro, California.

References

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External links

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* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/patrol/pf37.htm hazegray.org: USS "San Pedro"]
* [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/names.htm Guide: Naming Ships]