USS Charlotte (PF-60)

USS "Charlotte" (PF-60), a "Tacoma"-class frigate, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named "Charlotte".

The third "Charlotte" (PF-60) was launched on 30 October 1943 by Globe Shipbuilding Company, in Superior, Wisconsin, under a Maritime Commission contract, sponsored by Mrs. R. Billings; placed in service on 19 July 1944; commissioned on 9 October 1944, with Commander R. D. Dean, USCG, in command; and reported to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

"Charlotte" cleared Boston, Massachusetts, on 8 January 1945 to take up what was to be her primary mission through her naval service, sailing to NS Argentia, Newfoundland, where she took up weather station duty. Flashing news of weather conditions from her post at sea, she helped make it possible for specialists to prepare weather predictions. This information not only affected flight operations and ship movements in the western Atlantic where she patrolled, but since weather in general moves to the eastward, aided in predicting European conditions.

Between 21 and 26 March 1945, "Charlotte" aided "Surprise" (PG-63) and "Tenacity" (PG-71), rendezvousing at sea with the ice-damaged gunboats and towing them to Argentia. Later, she towed "Tenacity" to Boston, but by 5 April was back on her weather station. Similar duty in the North Atlantic, during which she kept alert for the possibility of rescuing downed aviators, continued until 17 January 1946, when she sailed from Boston for a weather station off Bermuda.

"Charlotte" arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, on 15 March 1946, and was decommissioned there on 16 April 1946. She was sold on 13 May 1947.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c6/charlotte-iii.htm

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/08060.htm navsource.org: USS "Charlotte"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/patrol/pf60.htm hazegray.org: USS "Charlotte"]