USS Glendale (PF-36)

USS "Glendale" (PF-36), a "Tacoma"-class frigate, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Glendale, California.

"Glendale" (PF-36) was launched on 28 May 1943 at the Consolidated Steel Corporation shipyard in Los Angeles, California, sponsored by Miss Shirley Schlichtman; and commissioned on 1 October 1943, with Lieutenant Commander Harold J. Doebler, USCG, in command.

Following shakedown off Southern California, "Glendale" sailed from San Diego, California, on 12 January 1944 and reached Cairns, Australia, on 17 February. Until late 1944, she served as an anti-submarine and anti-aircraft escort ship based in New Guinea protecting arriving and departing merchantmen.

In September the frigate took part in the assault on Morotai Island, N.W.I., sailing from Humboldt Bay, New Guinea, on 14 September to escort merchant ships to the island. She returned to Humboldt Bay on 24 September to continue escort assignments between New Guinea and the Philippines.

On 5 December 1944, "Glendale" was escorting a convoy from Hollandia to Leyte when attacking Japanese aircraft sank SS "Antoine Saugrain", a cargo ship laden with valuable radar material, and severely damaged SS "Marcus Daly". She brought the rest of the convoy safely into Leyte the next day.

"Glendale" departed Leyte on 8 December bound for the Atlantic and moored at Boston, Massachusetts, on 24 January 1945. After overhaul, she got underway from Casco Bay, Maine, on 28 March for Seattle, Washington, arriving there on 26 April, before she sailed for Cold Bay, Alaska. Decommissioning there on 12 June 1945, she was simultaneously transferred to the Soviet Navy. Renamed EK-42 she then served as a patrol vessel in the Far East.

"Glendale" was returned to the United States by the Soviet Union on 16 November 1949 at Yokosuka, Japan, and recommissioned on 11 October 1950. In December, 1950, the ship patrolled off Hungnam, Pusan, and Inchon, Korea, in support of United Nations forces fighting aggression ashore. For her actions in Korean waters, "Glendale" was awarded the Korean Presidential Unit Citation. On 29 October 1951, she was decommissioned again and transferred to the Government of Thailand to serve as "Tachin" (PF-1). "Glendale" was struck from the Navy List on 20 November 1951.

"Glendale" was awarded five battle stars for World War II service and four battle stars for Korean War service.

References

When the USS Glendale was dicommisioned Lietenant Commander Ambrose Simko handed his ship to the Soviet Union. He as well as the other Commanders whose ships were comendiered to the Soviets received custom daggers made for each Commander as gifts from the Soviets.

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g5/glendale.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Glendale"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/08036.htm navsource.org: USS "Glendale"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/patrol/pf36.htm hazegray.org: USS "Glendale"]