SC-497 class submarine chaser
Encyclopedia
The SC-497 class submarine chasers were a class of 438 submarine chasers built primarily for the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 from 1941-1944. The SC-497s were based on the experimental submarine chaser, USS SC-453. Production began in 1941 and continued until they were succeeded by the SC-1466 class submarine chaser in 1944. As part of the Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease was the program under which the United States of America supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, China, Free France, and other Allied nations with materiel between 1941 and 1945. It was signed into law on March 11, 1941, a year and a half after the outbreak of war in Europe in...

 program, 142 were transferred for use by allies of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The SC-497s were utilized as off-shore patrol and anti-submarine warfare vessels. Ninety-six SC-497s were converted into other types of patrol vessels to meet demands in specific locations. Despite the large number of SC-497s produced, none have been credited with destroying an enemy ship. USS SC-669 is sometimes incorrectly credited with sinking the Japanese submarine RO-107 on 29 May 1943. However, RO-107 was still active during the summer of 1943. Sixteen SC-497s were lost and another one was lost after her conversion into a PGM-1 class motor gunboat
PGM-1 class motor gunboat
The PGM-1 class motor gunboats were a class of eight gunboats converted for the United States Navy from 1943-1944 and were succeeded by the PGM-9 class motor gunboat. All eight PGM-1s were converted from SC-497 class submarine chasers. The PGM-1s were created to support PT boats in the Pacific,...

.

Lend-Lease program

During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, 142 SC-497 class submarine chasers were lent to allies of the United States as part of the Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease was the program under which the United States of America supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, China, Free France, and other Allied nations with materiel between 1941 and 1945. It was signed into law on March 11, 1941, a year and a half after the outbreak of war in Europe in...

 program enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...

. Seventy-eight were sent to the Soviet Union, 50 to France, 8 to Brazil, 3 to Norway, and 3 to Mexico.

Conversions

Seventy of the SC-497s were converted into patrol control crafts (SCC), 18 were converted into coastal mine sweepers (AMC), and 8 were converted into patrol gunboats, motor (PGM).
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