Template:Infobox Ship Class

The Asheville is a class of small military ship that was originally built by the United States in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis. It is named for a city in western North Carolina and the seat of Buncombe County. All Asheville class gunboats have since been transferred to the Greek, Turkish, Columbian and South Korean Navies, are scheduled to be disposed, or have been donated to museums for historical purposes, with the exception of the USS CHEHALIS, which has been redesignated the Athena, a research vessel.^[1]
The Asheville class gunboats were originally designated PGM Motor Gunboats, however they were reclassified in 1967 as PG Patrol Combatant ships. ^[2]

A total of 17 Asheville-class gunboats were made between 1966 and 1971

This is a list of the Asheville Class Gunboats commissioned for the U.S. Navy. ^{[3] [4]}

• USS ASHEVILLE (PGM-84) commissioned on 06 August 1966. It was stricken from active duty on 15 December 1966.
• USS GALLUP (PGM-85) commissioned on 22 October 1966. It was stricken from active duty on 9 October 1984.
• USS CROCKETT (PGM-88) commissioned on 24 June 1967. It was stricken from active duty on 15 December 1976.
• USS ANTELOPE (PGM-86) commissioned on 04 November 1967. It was stricken from active duty on 1 October 1977.
• USS READY (PGM-87) commissioned on 06 January 1968. It was stricken from active duty on 1 October 1977.
• USS MARATHON (PGM-89) commissioned on 11 May 1968. It was stricken from active duty on 15 December 1976.
• USS CANON (PGM-90) commissioned on 26 July 1968. It was stricken from active duty on 15 December 1976.

*PGM-91 was built, but is not an Asheville class ship.

• USS TACOMA (PGM-92) commissioned on 14 July 1969. It was stricken from active duty on 12 April 1995.
• USS WELCH (PGM-93) commissioned on 08 September 1969. It was stricken from active duty on 12 April 1995.
• USS DEFIANCE (PGM-95) commissioned on 24 September 1969. It was stricken from active duty on 6 August 1987.
• USS SURPRISE (PGM-97) commissioned on 17 October 1969. It was stricken from active duty on 6 August 1987.
• USS CHEHALIS (PGM-94) commissioned on 08 November 1969. It was stricken from active duty on 8 November 1969.
• USS BEACON (PGM-99) commissioned on 21 November 1969. It was stricken from active duty on 1 July 1975.
• USS GREEN BAY (PGM-101) commissioned on 05 December 1969. It was stricken from active duty on 1 July 1975.
• USS BENICIA (PGM-96) commissioned on 25 April 1970. It was stricken from active duty on 30 August 1996.
• USS GRAND RAPIDS (PGM-98) commissioned on 05 September 1970. It was stricken from active duty on 5 September 1970.
• USS DOUGLAS (PGM-100) commissioned on 07 February 1971. It was stricken from active duty on 1 October 1977.

Two of the ships were transfered to the Greek navy; both ships were in reserve from April 1977 before being refitted and transferred. The gas-turbine propulsion engines were removed prior to transfer and the ships were reclassified as coastal patrol craft.

• Tolmi (ΤΟΛΜΗ) P 229 (ex-Green Bay) commissioned on 5 December 1969 for U.S.Navy, recommissioned in 18 June 1991^[5]
• Ormi (ΟΡΜΗ) P 230 (ex-Beacon) commissioned on 21 November 1969 U.S.Navy, recommissioned in 18 June 1991

• http://www.hellenicnavy.gr/ Template:Gr icon
• http://www.hellas.org/military/navy/#ashville
• http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/patrol/pgm84.htm Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships online
• http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/11idx.htm NavSource Photo Archive