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m list fix;
Use {{convert}} for unit conversions. Minor ce. +links.
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|Ship type=PGM motor gunboat
|Ship type=PGM motor gunboat
|Ship tonnage=
|Ship tonnage=
|Ship displacement=240 [[Long ton|tons]] (244 [[Tonne|t]])
|Ship displacement={{convert|240|LT|t|0|lk=on}}
|Ship tons burthen=
|Ship tons burthen=
|Ship length={{convert|164|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship length={{convert|164|ft|6|in|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|24|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|24|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship height=
|Ship draft={{convert|9|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft={{convert|9|ft|6|in|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship hold depth=
|Ship hold depth=
|Ship decks=
|Ship decks=
|Ship power=
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=2 × [[Cummins]] VT12-875 diesel; 1,450 [[horsepower|hp]] (1.07 MW); [[General Electric J79|General Electric]] LM1500 [[Combined diesel or gas|marine gas turbine]]
|Ship propulsion=[[CODOG]] 2 × [[Cummins]] VT12-875 diesel; {{convert|1450|hp|MW|abbr=on|lk=in}}; [[GE Aviation|General Electric]] [[General Electric LM1500|LM1500]] marine [[gas turbine]]
|Ship sail plan=
|Ship sail plan=
|Ship speed=*16 [[knot (unit)|knots]] (30 km/h) 18 mph maximum on diesels
|Ship speed=*{{convert|16|kn|km/h|abbr=on|lk=in}} max on diesels
*{{convert|42|kn|km/h}} 48 mph maximum on turbine
*{{convert|42|kn|km/h|abbr=on}} max on turbine
|Ship range=1,700 [[nautical mile|NM]] (3100 km)
|Ship range={{convert|1700|NM|km|abbr=on|lk=in}}
|Ship endurance=
|Ship endurance=
|Ship test depth=
|Ship test depth=
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'''Fire control''': [[Western Electric]] AN/SPG-50; I/J-band.
'''Fire control''': [[Western Electric]] AN/SPG-50; I/J-band.
|Ship EW=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*'''Guns''': 1 × USN {{convert|3|in|mm|abbr=on}} /50 Mk 34; 50 rounds/min to (7 NM) 12.8 km; weight of shell 6 kg.
|Ship armament=*'''Guns''': 1 × USN {{convert|3|in|mm|abbr=on}} /50 Mk 34; 50 rounds/min to {{convert|7|NM|km|abbr=on|lk=in}}; weight of shell 6 kg.
*4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) [[machine gun]]s (2 × 2)
*4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) [[machine gun]]s (2 × 2)
*1 × [[Bofors]] 40 mm/70 Mk 10.
*1 × [[Bofors]] 40 mm/70 Mk 10.
*'''Missiles''': Some units had the 40MM replaced with various missile configurations
*'''Missiles''': Some units had the 40 mm replaced with various missile configurations
|Ship armour=
|Ship armour=
|Ship armor=
|Ship armor=
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The ''Asheville''-class gunboats were originally designated PGM motor gunboats, but were reclassified in 1967 as PG [[Patrol boat|patrol combatant]] ships.<ref>[http://www.gunboatriders.com/pubs/history_of_the_us_gunboat_navy.html History of the US Gunboat Navy<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
The ''Asheville''-class gunboats were originally designated PGM motor gunboats, but were reclassified in 1967 as PG [[Patrol boat|patrol combatant]] ships.<ref>[http://www.gunboatriders.com/pubs/history_of_the_us_gunboat_navy.html History of the US Gunboat Navy<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


''Asheville'' class gunboats employed a [[Combined diesel or gas]] turbine (CODOG) propulsion system; twin Cummins Diesels for endurance, and a GE [[General Electric J79|LM1500]] gas turbine for high-speed dash. Engine controls were operated by pneumatics. The controllable reversible pitch propeller allowed them to stop in less than two ship lengths from full speed. They were the first gas turbine ships in the US Navy, as well as the first with aluminum hulls and fiberglass superstructures.
''Asheville'' class gunboats employed a [[combined diesel or gas]] turbine (CODOG) propulsion system; twin [[Cummins]] diesel engines for endurance, and a GE [[General Electric LM1500|LM1500]] gas turbine for high-speed dash. Engine controls were operated by pneumatics. The controllable reversible pitch propeller allowed them to stop in less than two ship lengths from full speed. They were the first gas turbine ships in the US Navy, as well as the first with aluminum hulls and fiberglass superstructures.


==History==
==History==
Originally designed for the Caribbean patrols, the ''Asheville'' class ships were deployed into Southeast Asia. They proved successful in coastal work, intercepting small boats attempting to transport arms along the Viet Nam coast. Attempts to use them on the inland rivers proved disastrous to the small lightly armored ships, the USS ''Cannon'' was severely damaged by over eight rocket strikes, resulting in half of the crew being wounded.<ref>[http://www.gunboatriders.com/theboats/90_canon/pg90.html Gunboat Riders Web Site - USS Canon]</ref>
Originally designed for the Caribbean patrols, the ''Asheville'' class ships were deployed into Southeast Asia. They proved successful in coastal work, intercepting small boats attempting to transport arms along the Viet Nam coast. Attempts to use them on the inland rivers proved disastrous to the small lightly armored ships, the USS ''Cannon'' was severely damaged by over eight rocket strikes, resulting in half of the crew being wounded.<ref>[http://www.gunboatriders.com/theboats/90_canon/pg90.html Gunboat Riders Web Site - USS Canon]</ref>


The USS ''Surprise'' and the USS ''Beacon'' were deployed in the Mediterranean to counter the Soviet gunboats, their 3" guns a solid deterrent to the small missile boats.
The USS ''Surprise'' and the USS ''Beacon'' were deployed in the Mediterranean to counter the Soviet gunboats, their 3-inch guns a solid deterrent to the small missile boats.


Five of the gunboats were fitted with various missile systems replacing the 40mm guns. ''Benicia'' conducted test firings in the spring of 1971 of a modified Bullpup surface-to-surface missile system and the ''Antelope'' and ''Ready'' were fitted with two launch cells aft plus reload boxes on deck. The ''Grand Rapids'' and ''Douglas'' were fitted with an improved Standard ARM missile.<ref>[http://www.gunboatriders.com/theboats/evolution_of_the_asheville_class.html Evolution of the Asheville Class of Patrol Gunboats]</ref>
Five of the gunboats were fitted with various missile systems replacing the 40mm guns. ''Benicia'' conducted test firings in the spring of 1971 of a modified [[AGM-12 Bullpup]] surface-to-surface missile system and the ''Antelope'' and ''Ready'' were fitted with two launch cells aft plus reload boxes on deck. The ''Grand Rapids'' and ''Douglas'' were fitted with an improved [[Standard ARM]] missile.<ref>[http://www.gunboatriders.com/theboats/evolution_of_the_asheville_class.html Evolution of the Asheville Class of Patrol Gunboats]</ref>


==Ships==
==Ships==

Revision as of 04:15, 15 November 2015

The Asheville-class gunboats were a class of small military ships built for the United States Navy in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis. The class is named for a city in western North Carolina and the seat of Buncombe County. Most Asheville-class gunboats have since been donated to museums, scheduled for scrapping, or transferred to the Greek, Turkish, Colombian and South Korean Navies. The exceptions are the USS Chehalis (PGM-94) and USS Grand Rapids (PGM-98), which are operated by the Naval Surface Warfare Center.[1]

Origination

The Asheville-class gunboats were originally designated PGM motor gunboats, but were reclassified in 1967 as PG patrol combatant ships.[2]

Asheville class gunboats employed a combined diesel or gas turbine (CODOG) propulsion system; twin Cummins diesel engines for endurance, and a GE LM1500 gas turbine for high-speed dash. Engine controls were operated by pneumatics. The controllable reversible pitch propeller allowed them to stop in less than two ship lengths from full speed. They were the first gas turbine ships in the US Navy, as well as the first with aluminum hulls and fiberglass superstructures.

History

Originally designed for the Caribbean patrols, the Asheville class ships were deployed into Southeast Asia. They proved successful in coastal work, intercepting small boats attempting to transport arms along the Viet Nam coast. Attempts to use them on the inland rivers proved disastrous to the small lightly armored ships, the USS Cannon was severely damaged by over eight rocket strikes, resulting in half of the crew being wounded.[3]

The USS Surprise and the USS Beacon were deployed in the Mediterranean to counter the Soviet gunboats, their 3-inch guns a solid deterrent to the small missile boats.

Five of the gunboats were fitted with various missile systems replacing the 40mm guns. Benicia conducted test firings in the spring of 1971 of a modified AGM-12 Bullpup surface-to-surface missile system and the Antelope and Ready were fitted with two launch cells aft plus reload boxes on deck. The Grand Rapids and Douglas were fitted with an improved Standard ARM missile.[4]

Ships

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

During the Third Cod War between Iceland and Great Britain in 1975-1976 the Icelandic Coast Guard, through the Minister of Justice Ólafur Jóhannesson (the political leader of the Coast Guard), requested the loan of one or more Asheville boats from the United States Navy. With their high speed they were considered ideal for the Icelanders to counter the British frigates protecting trawlers on the Icelandic fishing banks. The U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger categorically turned down the Icelandic request.[5] This hardly came as a great surprise to the Icelanders, as the request for the Asheville boats was probably a political ploy, intended to show how serious Iceland was in overcoming the Royal Navy in the struggle for the fishing banks.[6] The seaworthiness of the Ashevilles in the rough seas of the North Atlantic around Iceland has to be considered doubtful, at best.

Original commission

The following Asheville-class gunboats were commissioned for the U.S. Navy.[7][8]

(PG93, PG95, PG97, PG99 & PG101 were built by Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, WI; most of the remaining PG84 class were built by Tacoma Shipyard)

Hellenic Navy

Two of the ships were transferred to the navy of Greece; 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) (ex-Green Bay) transferred 30 October 1989[9] recommissioned on 18 June 1991.[10]
  • Ormi (ΟΡΜΗ) (ex-Beacon) transferred 30 October 1989[11] recommissioned on 18 June 1991.

Colombian National Armada

Turkish Navy

Republic of Korea Navy

Notes

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