USS Welch (PC-817)

USS "Welch" (PC-817) was an "PC-461"-class patrol craft acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II for the task of patrolling designated sea areas and acting as protective escort for larger ships.

"PC-817" was laid down at Portland, Oregon, by the Albina Engine & Machinery Works on 8 January 1943; launched on 4 March 1943; sponsored by Mrs. H. O. McAlpine; and commissioned on 13 July 1943, Lt. H. L. Martin, USNR, in command.

World War II service

"PC-817" completed fitting out at Portland until 6 August when she shifted south to San Pedro, California. After shakedown training out of San Pedro between 18 August and 30 September, the patrol craft was assigned to the Western Sea Frontier. She served along the California coast -- escorting coastwise convoys and conducting antisubmarine patrols -- until 1 December when she arrived at the Naval Station, Seattle, Washington, for repairs incident to her imminent transfer to the Alaska Sea Frontier. On the 16th, she departed Seattle and arrived at Ketchikan four days later.

Operations in Alaskan waters

For the next 11 months, "PC-817" steamed between the sundry American bases along the Aleutians chain, escorting supply convoys, transporting passengers and mail, and conducting surveys. On 5 November 1944, the patrol vessel departed Shemya to escort "SS Griffco" to Seattle, Washington. After stops at Adak, Dutch Harbor, and Ketchikan, she arrived in Seattle on 29 November.

Last wartime assignment in the Hawaiian Islands

At the Puget Sound Navy Yard, she began a major overhaul that lasted until April 1945. On 18 April, the patrol vessel took leave of Puget Sound and headed -- via San Francisco, California -- to her last wartime assignment -- the Hawaiian Islands. She reached Pearl Harbor on 1 May and conducted patrols among and escorted ships between the islands through the end of the war.

End-of-war activity

On 11 September, she headed back to the U.S. West Coast, arriving in San Pedro, California, on the 20th. From there, she steamed to the Panama Canal and thence proceeded via Key West, Florida, to Jacksonville, Florida, where she arrived on 28 November.

After inactivation, a change of mission to training ship

"PC-817" was to have undergone inactivation overhaul at Jacksonville and then was to have been decommissioned and berthed with the Florida Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet. However, her inactivation was never completed. She remained at Jacksonville until April 1946 when she moved north to Charleston, South Carolina, for disposal by the Commandant, 6th Naval District. However, while at Charleston, she received a reprieve by way of assignment as U.S. Naval Reserve training ship for the 9th Naval District. On 4 June, she headed north from Charleston. After a visit to New York City and port calls at American and Canadian ports along the St. Lawrence waterway, she arrived at Toledo, Ohio, on 11 July. Though placed out of commission on 22 July, "PC-817" remained active -- in an "in service" capacity -- as a Naval Reserve training ship for the 9th Naval District.

Welch’s last voyage

After over three years of service training naval reservists on the Great Lakes, "PC-817" began her last voyage on 14 November 1949. From Chicago, Illinois, she steamed down the Des Plaines and Illinois river system to the Mississippi River just above St. Louis, Missouri, and thence moved south to New Orleans, Louisiana, where she arrived on 29 November. A week later, she continued her voyage -- via Pensacola, St. Petersburg and Key West, Florida -- and arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 19 December.

Deactivation and decommissioning

On the 21st, she began inactivation overhaul at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. In March 1950, she was shifted south to Norfolk, Virginia, and was berthed with the Norfolk Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She remained there for the next nine years; and, during that time, she received a name. On 15 February 1956, "PC-817" became "USS Welch" ("PC-817"). On 1 April 1959, her name was struck from the Navy list. She was probably sold for scrapping soon thereafter.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* Patrol boat

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/w5/welch-i.htm USS Welch]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/010817.htm NavSource Online: Submarine Chaser Photo Archive - Welch (PC 817) - ex-PC-817]