USS Muskogee (PF-49)

USS "Muskogee" (PF-49), a "Tacoma"-class frigate, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Muskogee, Oklahoma.

"Muskogee" (PF-49) was laid down 18 September 1943 by Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, Calif.; launched 18 October 1943; sponsored by Mrs. S. B. Hudson, wife of the mayor of Muskogee; and commissioned 16 March 1944, Commander Rufus E. Mroczkowski, USCG, in command.

After training and exercises off the California coast, "Muskogee" departed San Pedro, Calif., 18 June 1944 for Noumea, where she arrived 18 July for patrol and escort duty from Noumea and, after its capture, Humboldt Bay, New Guinea. Antisubmarine patrol and screening for ships operating around New Guinea were her primary duties into October. On 18 October she got underway screening the second reinforcement group bound for newly invaded Leyte, arriving in San Pedro Bay 24 October to screen transports and supply ships under numerous enemy air attacks while waiting for a group of empty LSTs to form up for the return passage. As her convoy retired on the 26th, it was again attacked, and "Muskogee" joined in downing several enemy aircraft. A second escort voyage to Leyte in early November was less eventful.

Concluding her New Guinea patrols, "Muskogee" arrived in Pearl Harbor 15 December, then reported at Dutch Harbor 12 January 1945 for similar duty in the Aleutians. On 6 July she cleared Adak for repairs at Seattle, returning to Alaska to decommission at Cold Bay 26 August 1945. Leased to the Russian Government 27 August 1945, she was returned to U.S. custody 1 November 1949 in Japan, and was loaned to South Korea 23 October 1950 and commissioned as "Duman" (PF-61). The ship was transferred outright to South Korea under the Security Assistance Program 1 October 1973. Its fate remains unknown.

"Muskogee" received one battle star for World War II service.

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m16/muskogee.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Muskogee"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/08049.htm navsource.org: USS "Muskogee"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/patrol/pf49.htm hazegray.org: USS "Muskogee"]