SC-492 Class, U.S. Submarine Chasers

Specifications:

Tonnage 98 tons standard
Maximum speed       20 knots
Armament 1 3"/23 AA gun
Modifications

Later production were equipped with a 3"/50 AA gun. This was often further replaced with a 40mm Bofors AA gun.

Eight were rearmed as gunboats (PGM-1 through PGM-8) and another 70 became control boats.


The SC-492 class was based on the earlier SC-453 class. They handled well but were unstable and cramped, making them all but useless except as coastal craft.

Because production of the diesel engine model for which these boats were designed fell behind schedule, other models of diesel engine were substituted in about half the boats, so that actual speed varied from 15.6 knots to 21 knots.

435 vessels were completed and another 37 ordered but cancelled. Of the units completed, eight were given to Brazil, 50 to France, three to Norway, and 78 to Russia as Lend-Lease. All were retired at the end of the war except for a few units retained as coastal minecraft.

References

Worth (2001)

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