- Asheville class gunboat
The "Asheville" class gunboats were a class of small
military ships built for theUnited States Navy in response to theCuban Missile Crisis . The class is named for a city in westernNorth Carolina and the seat of Buncombe County. Most "Asheville"-classgunboat s have since been donated to museums, scheduled for scrapping, or transferred to the Greek, Turkish, Colombian and South Korean Navies. The exceptions are the USS|Chehalis|PGM-94 and USS|Grand Rapids|PGM-92, which are operated by theNaval Surface Warfare Center . [ [http://www.gunboatriders.com/theboats/94_chehalis/pg94.html USS CHEHALIS (PG-94) ] ]The "Asheville"-class gunboats were originally designated PGM motor gunboats, but were reclassified in 1967 as PG patrol combatant ships. [ [http://www.gunboatriders.com/pubs/history_of_the_us_gunboat_navy.html History of the US Gunboat Navy ] ]
History
hips
A total of 17 "Asheville"-class gunboats were built between 1966 and 1971.
Original commission
This is a list of the "Asheville"-class gunboats commissioned for the U.S. Navy. [ [http://www.gunboatriders.com/theboats/general_spec.html The ASHEVILLE CLASS Patrol Gunboat (PG) ] ] [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/pg-84-unit.htm PG 84 Asheville ] ]
*USS|Asheville|PGM-84 commissioned on06 August 1966 . It was struck from theNavy Register on15 December 1976 .
*USS|Gallup|PGM-85 commissioned on22 October 1966 . Struck9 October 1984 .
*USS|Antelope|PGM-86 commissioned on04 November 1967 . Struck1 October 1977 .
*USS|Ready|PGM-87 commissioned on06 January 1968 . Struck on1 October 1977 .
*USS|Crockett|PGM-88 commissioned on24 June 1967 . Struck on15 December 1976 .
*USS|Marathon|PGM-89 commissioned on11 May 1968 . Struck on15 December 1976 .
*USS|Canon|PGM-90 commissioned on26 July 1968 . Struck on9 October 1984 .
*PGM-91 was not an "Asheville"-class ship.
*USS|Tacoma|PG-92 commissioned on14 July 1969 . Struck on12 April 1995 .
*USS|Welch|PGM-93 commissioned on08 September 1969 . Struck on12 April 1995 .
*USS|Chehalis|PGM-94 commissioned on08 November 1969 .
*USS|Defiance|PGM-95 commissioned on24 September 1969 . Struck on6 August 1987 .
*USS|Benicia|PGM-96 commissioned on25 April 1970 . Struck on30 August 1996 .
*USS "Surprise" (PGM-97) commissioned on17 October 1969 . Struck on6 August 1987 .
*USS|Grand Rapids|PGM-98 commissioned on05 September 1970 .
*USS|Beacon|PGM-99 commissioned on21 November 1969 . Struck on1 July 1975 .
*USS|Douglas|PGM-100 commissioned on07 February 1971 . Struck on1 October 1977 .
*USS|Green Bay|PG-101 commissioned on05 December 1969 . Struck on1 July 1975 .Hellenic Navy
Two of the ships were transferred to the navy of Greece; both ships were in reserve from April 1977 before being refitted and transferred. The gas-turbine propulsion
engine s were removed prior to transfer and the ships were reclassified as coastal patrol craft.
*"Tolmi" ( _el. ΤΟΛΜΗ)" (ex-USS|Green Bay|PG-101|2) transferred30 October 1989 [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/PG101.htm Naval Vessel Register: USS "Green Bay"] recommissioned on18 June 1991 . [ [http://ussgreenbay.mactom.com/HSTolmi/index.html U.S.S. Green Bay (PG-101) Commissioning: HS Tolmi (P-229) ] ]
*"Ormi" ( _el. ΟΡΜΗ)" (ex-USS|Beacon|PGM-99|2) transferred30 October 1989 [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/PG99.htm Naval Vessel Register: USS "Beacon"] recommissioned on18 June 1991 .Colombian National Armada
*USS|Tacoma|PG-92 officially released to Colombia on
20 September 1995 , [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/PG92.htm Naval Vessel Register: USS "Tacoma"] renamed "Quita Suevo" (P-111).http://www.coltoncompany.com/shipbldg/ussbldrs/postwwii/government/namedsmallcombatants.htm]
*USS|Welch|PGM-93 officially released to Colombia on20 September 1995 , [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/PG93.htm Naval Vessel Register: USS "Welch"] renamed "Albuquerque" (P-112).Turkish Navy
*USS|Defiance|PGM-95 transferred to Turkey in 1973 under the
Foreign Assistance Act ; renamed "Yildirim" (P-338), sunk in 1985.
*USS|Surprise|PGM-97 transferred to Turkey in 1973 under the Foreign Assistance Act; renamed "Bora" (P-339).Republic of Korea Navy
*USS|Benicia|PGM-96 transferred to Korea in 1973; renamed "Paek Ku" (PGM 351), scrapped in 1998. [ [http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/11096.htm Gunboat PG-96 Benicia ] ]
Notes
External links
* http://www.hellenicnavy.gr/ Gr icon
* http://www.hellas.org/military/navy/#ashville
* http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/patrol/pgm84.htm Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships online
* http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/11idx.htm NavSource photo archive
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