USS Long Beach (PF-34)

USS "Long Beach" (PF-34), a sclass|Tacoma|frigate, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Long Beach, California and Long Beach, New York.

The second "Long Beach" (PF-34) was laid down 19 March 1943 as PG-142, for the Maritime Commission, by Consolidated Steel Corporation, in Wilmington, California. Reclassified as PF-34 on 15 April 1943, she was launched on 5 May 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Walter Boyd; and acquired by the Navy and commissioned on 8 September 1943, with Lieutenant Commander T. R. Midtlying, USCG, in command.

Following shakedown off California, "Long Beach" departed San Diego, California, on 12 January 1944 for Cairns, Australia, arriving there on 17 February. After towing two LCSs from Milne Bay to Cape Sudest, she sailed on 16 March escorting USS|Carter Hall|LSD-3|2 to the landings on Manus in the Admiralties, destined to be an essential base for aiding in the ultimate victory over Japan. Returning to Cape Sudest on 18 March, "Long Beach" screened ships around New Guinea, and on 19 April took part in the invasion of Aitape. She sailed for the Schoutens on 6 August for patrol and shore bombardment duty during cleanup operations against Japanese holdouts in the Biak area, returning to local operations off New Guinea on 31 August.

On 5 November, "Long Beach" sailed for newly invaded Leyte guarding a resupply convoy of LSTs, arriving at Leyte Gulf on 15 November and returning to New Guinea on 21 November. She steered for home 15 December, calling at Panama and reaching Boston, Massachusetts, on 25 January 1945. After overhaul, she left for Alaska on 27 March, training en route at Balboa, Canal Zone. She decommissioned at Cold Bay, Alaska, on 12 July 1945, and was transferred to the Russian Navy. Returned to the United States at Yokosuka, Japan, she lay idle until loaned to Japan for service in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force in November 1953 as "Shii" (PF-17).

On 15 February 1957, the name "Long Beach" was canceled in order that the name could be reassigned to a new ship, a powerful nuclear guided-missile cruiser that was then under construction. On 1 September, "Shii" was reclassified PF-297. Struck from the U.S. Naval Vessel Register on 1 December 1961, PF-34 was transferred to Japan outright on 28 August 1962. PF-34 saw continuous service in the Japanese Maritime Self‑Defense Force as "Shii" until decommissioned and scrapped in 1967.

"Long Beach" received four battle stars for World War II service.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l8/long_beach-ii.htm

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/08034.htm navsource.org: USS "Long Beach"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/patrol/pf34.htm hazegray.org: USS "Long Beach"]