The SC-497-class submarine chasers were a class of 438 submarine chasers built primarily for the United States Navy from 1941–1944.[1] The SC-497s were based on the experimental submarine chaser, USS SC-453. Submarine chasers of this variety were collectively nicknamed "the splinter fleet" due to their wooden hulls.[2]
History
The SC-497s were off-shore patrol and anti-submarine warfare vessels. Seventy of the SC-497s were converted into patrol control crafts (SCC), 18 were converted into coastal minesweepers (AMC), and 8 were converted into patrol gunboats, motor (PGM).[3]
Sixteen SC-497s were lost and another one was lost after her conversion into a PGM-1-class motor gunboat.[3][4]
Despite the large number of SC-497s, none are credited with destroying an enemy ship. (USS SC-669 is sometimes incorrectly credited with sinking the Japanese submarine RO-107 on 29 May 1943,[3] but RO-107 was still active on 6 July 1943.[5])
During World War II, 142 SC-497-class submarine chasers were lent to allies of the United States as part of the Lend-Lease program. Seventy-eight were sent to the Soviet Union, 50 to France, 8 to Brazil, 3 to Norway, and 3 to Mexico.[3][1] The three Norwegian examples served with distinction on the Shetland bus service, running agents, refugees and weapons past the German blockade between occupied Norway and Britain.
Survivors
HNoMS Hitra (ex-USS SC-718) is preserved at the Royal Norwegian Navy Museum. Some remains of HNoMS Hessa (ex-USS SC-683) and HNoMS Vigra (ex-USS SC-1061) can be seen near the coast of Sweden.
See also
- SC-1-class submarine chaser
- SC-1466-class submarine chaser
- List of patrol vessels of the United States Navy
References
- ^ Splinter Fleet, retrieved 16 January 2019
- ^ a b c d Information on WWII SCs, retrieved 21 March 2009
- ^ Submarine chasers: SC-497 class, retrieved 21 March 2009
- ^ IJN Submarine RO-107: Tabular Record of Movement, retrieved 21 March 2009
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