American patrol frigate USS Tacoma PF-3 1943-1945, Soviet EK-11 1945-1949, American USS Tacoma 1949-1951, South Korean Taedong 1951-1973

British River-class-anti submarine frigates ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

American Tacoma-class-patrol frigates. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Preceded by the Asheville-class patrol frigates. Originally classified as gunboats (PG) but since 15 April 1943 as patrol frigates. Planned were 100 ships but 4 were cancelled so totally 96 were built between 1943-1945 of which 21 were transferred to the British Royal Navy commissioned as the Colony-class and 28 to the Soviet Union. Based on a design of the British River-class of which the HMS Adur and the HMCS Annan -both built in Canada- were transferred to the USA in 1942 and became the USS Asheville and Natchez of the Asheville-class. The American firm Gibbs&Cox made for the United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) a modified design S2-S2-AQ1 to meet the American demands and which became the Tacoma-class. Ordered as Type S2-S2-AQ1 hull, MCE hull 1421. Laid down by Permanente Metals Richmond Shipyard 4, Richmond, California, USA with yard number 46 on 10 March 1943, launched on 7 July 1943, commissioned on 6 November 1943, decommissioned on 16 August 1945, transferred to the Soviet Union on 16 August 1945, renamed EK-11, decommissioned and returned to the USA on 16 October 1949, retaining original name, recommissioned on 1 December 1950, decommissioned in October 1951, transferred to South Korea on 9 October 1951, renamed Taedong F-63, decommissioned on 28 February 1973, returned to the USA on 28 February 1973, stricken on 20 April 1973, donated to South Korea on 1 June 1973 and became museum ship.