USS Erie (PG-50)

USS Erie (PG-50)

USS "Erie" (PG-50) was the lead ship in a class of two Patrol Gunboats. Launched and commissioned in 1936, "Erie" spent her shakedown cruise protecting American interests and citizens for two months during the Spanish Civil War.

By the outbreak of World War II "Erie" was stationed in Central America, patrolling the western approaches to the Panama Canal. On 13 December 1941, "Erie" picked up 50 Japanese prisoners of war (POWs) at Puntarenas from the Costa Rican government.cite book | url = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/| title = The official chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II | chapter = Chapter III: 1941 | chapterurl = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1941.html | first = Robert | last = Cressman | location = Annapolis, Maryland | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 2000 | isbn = 9781557501493 | oclc = 41977179 | accessdate = 2007-12-18 ] On 14 December, "Erie" boarded MV "Sea Ray" and removed one Japanese POW, and ordered "Sea Ray" into Balboa the next day. On 16 December, she boarded the motor vessel "Santa Margarita" and ordered her to Puntarenas, and later the same day, towed a disabled motor boat, "Orion", into the same port.

In June of 1942 her home base was changed from Balboa to Cristobal, Panama, and with that she began to patrol against Kriegsmarine U-boats operating between Panama and Cuba.

While leading convoy TAG-20 between Trinidad and Guantanamo Bay "Erie" was struck by one of three torpedoes fired by "U-163" and badly damaged. Beached to prevent sinking, "Erie" burned for days and suffered seven killed and eleven wounded.

Raised and towed to the Willemstad inner harbor, "Erie" later capsized during preparations for salvage and was left in place until 1952, when her hulk was partially raised and towed out to sea, where it was sunk in deep water.

References

External links

* [http://usseriepg50.org/ USSEriePG50.org] — History and photos of the ship & crew
* [http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/PG50/index.html Erie History and Report on Salvage]


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