Product Code Database
A submarine chaser or subchaser is a type of small naval vessel that is specifically intended for anti-submarine warfare. They encompass designs that are now largely obsolete, but which played an important role in the wars of the first half of the 20th century. Many of the American submarine chasers used in World War I found their way to Allied nations by way of Lend-Lease in World War II.
Class relationships:
In early 1915, the British Admiralty selected the US Electric Launch Company (Elco) for the production of 50 motor launches for anti-submarine work, British industry being at maximum capacity. This order was eventually increased by a further 530. The whole order was completed by November 1916, and the vessels entered Royal Navy service. The vessels were in length and capable of . They were armed with a 3-pounder gun, towed paravanes to attack submarines and, later, .Gardiner, p. 101 Additional motor launches of the Fairmile A, Fairmile B and other classes were built for World War II.Gardiner and Chesneau, p. 71
Submarine chasers were used mostly by the United States Coast Guard in World War II for destroying German that were stationed off the coast of the United States that were trying to sink merchant convoys as they departed American ports. In the Pacific War, submarine chasers were used for amphibious landings, courier and escort duty. Submarine Chaser Photo Archive NavSource Splinter Fleet – The Wooden Subchasers of World War II
Eight British Fairmile B motor launches were transferred from Canada to the US in World War II, and included the SC-1466 class of sub-chasers. "Sunday Ship History: Submarine Chasers" EagleSpeak
The Imperial Japanese Navy had around 250 submarine chasers in World War II, principally about 200 of the No.1-class auxiliary submarine chasers. Some of these survived to serve in the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) after the war.Watts, pp. 279–288
During Project Hula, the United States secretly transferred 32 U.S. Navy submarine chasers to the Soviet Union between 26 May and 2 September 1945, and some of these saw action in the Soviet Navy during Soviet military operations against the Japanese between 9 August and 2 September 1945. The transfer of 24 more was canceled when transfers halted on 5 September 1945, three days after the Japanese surrender. Between 1954 and 1960 all 32 transferred submarine chasers were scrapped by the Soviet Union or destroyed off its coast by mutual agreement between the two countries.Russell, Richard A., Project Hula: Secret Soviet-American Cooperation in the War Against Japan, Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, 1997, , pp. 35, 37–38, 40.
|
|
