USS Hoquiam (PF-5)

USS "Hoquiam" (PF-5), a "Tacoma"-class frigate, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Hoquiam, Washington.

"Hoquiam" (PF-5) was laid down under Maritime Commission contract by Kaiser Cargo, Inc., Yard 4, Richmond, California, 10 April 1943; launched 31 July 1943; sponsored by Miss Helen Philbrick; and commissioned 8 May 1944, Lieutenant Commander P. B. Trimble, USCG, in command.

After shakedown off the coast of southern California, "Hoquiam" departed San Francisco 20 August, steamed via Seattle, and arrived Kodiak, Alaska, 27 August for duty with the Alaskan Sea Frontier. During the remainder of the war, she patrolled island waters along the Alaskan coast. After returning to Seattle for overhaul during June, 1945, she decommissioned at Cold Bay, Alaska, 16 August and transferred to Russia as EK-14 under lend-lease the same day.

Returned to the U.S. Navy 1 November 1949 at Yokosuka, Japan, "Hoquiam" recommissioned 27 September 1950, Lt. Comdr. B. A. Lane in command. Following a brief shakedown, she sailed to join American and United Nations forces in South Korea. Arriving off Wonsan, Korea, 25 October, she served as a harbor control and screening ship during amphibious landings. For the next 2 months she performed patrol, escort, harbor control, and communications duties along the northeastern coast of Korea.

In late December "Hoquiam" assisted with harbor control operations during the evacuation at Hungnam before sailing for Japan. Arriving Yokosuka 30 December, she underwent a brief overhaul, then served as a drone target ship off the coast of Japan from late January until early March 1951. She returned to Korean waters 8 March and over the next 6 months operated along the east coast of Korea from Wonsan to Songjin. She participated in interdiction and harassment patrols, designed to destroy enemy coastal shipping. In addition she conducted ASW operations off Wonsan and bombarded enemy shore installations and coastal supply routes.

While engaging enemy shore positions 7 May, "Hoquiam" was damaged by gunfire. She returned to Japan, arriving Yokosuka 16 May for repairs. Following repairs, she sailed 4 June via Sasebo to Wonsan where she arrived 10 June to resume bombardment and interdiction duty. She continued patrolling the eastern coast until September. After returning to Yokosuka 9 September, she decommissioned 8 October and was leased to the Republic of Korea. She served the Korean Navy as "Nae Tong" (PF-65).

"Hoquiam" received five battle stars for Korean war service.

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h8/hoquiam.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Hoquiam"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/08005.htm navsource.org: USS "Hoquiam"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/patrol/pf5.htm hazegray.org: USS "Hoquiam"]