USS Abilene (PF-58)

USS "Abilene" (PF-58), a "Tacoma"-class patrol frigate, was in the service of the United States Navy, named after the city of Abilene, Kansas.

She was laid down on as "Bridgeport" (Maritime Commission hull 1465), and originally classified as PG-166 on 6 May 1943 at the Globe Shipbuilding Company in Superior, Wisconsin. She was launched on 21 August 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Thomas F. Rogers; acquired by the Navy on 31 May 1944; renamed "Abilene" and assigned hull number PF-58 on 28 June 1944; and commissioned on 28 October 1944 with Lieutenant Commander Chester I. Steel in command.

Following shakedown at Bermuda, "Abilene" steamed to NS Argentia, Newfoundland, where she joined the North Atlantic Weather Patrol. She operated on this station through May 1945, conducting weather observations and rendering navigational assistance to airplanes.

After a brief period of upkeep at Boston, Massachusetts, "Abilene" assumed air-sea rescue duties in the Atlantic in June 1945. As a member of Task Group 24.5, the patrol vessel collected weather data while serving as a plane guard along the air routes between Europe and the United States.

"Abilene" was decommissioned at New Orleans, Louisiana, on 21 August 1946. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 13 November 1946. The ship was sold to the government of the Netherlands on 5 May 1947. The ship was renamed "Cirrus", and eventually scrapped in 1969.

References

*DANFS [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a1/abilene.htm]

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/08058.htm navsource.org: USS "Abilene" PF-58]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/patrol/pf58.htm hazegray.org: USS "Abilene" PF-58]