Provincetown PCS-1378

Provincetown


(PCS-1378: dp. 267; 1. 136'; b. 24'6", dr. 8'6", s. 14.5 k., cpl.
57; a. 1 40mm., 2 20mm., 2 dcp., 2 dct.)

Provincetown (PCS-1378), a wooden-hulled submarine chaser, was laid down 13 February 1943 by Wheeler Shipbuilding Corp., Whitestone, N.Y.; launched 18 Dceember 1943; accepted by the Navy 8 February 1944; and commissioned the next day, Lt. (j. g.) Leonard E. Burger in command.

After Atlantic coast shakedown out of Miami, Fla., Provincetown was assigned duty out of Key West, Fla. as one of the school ships attached to the Fleet Sonar Sehool. Upon arr*al Key West 26 February 1944, special ASW equipment was installed. Provincetown then eommeneed systematized OPAREA drills in ASW techniques, in which both officer and enlisted personnel praetieed and refined their hunting skills on friendly submarines.

In October 1945 Prouineetown was shifted to Newport, R.I. and assigned a month's OOD underway training duty. By cruising the ship channels of Narragansett Bay, she was instrumental in providing piloting, rules of the road, maneuvering, and shiphandling experience to prospective underway watch offceers.

At the end of December 1945 Provincetown resumed training operations with the Fleet Sonar Sehool at Key West. Inactivated in March 1946, she was berthed with the Florida Group of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Green Cove Springs, Fla. ln January 1952 she was reactivated and assigned to 1st Naval District Naval Reserve Training operations.

Provincetown decommissioned 14 May 1954 and again
berthed at Green Cove Springs. She was struck from the Navy List 5 September 1957 and sold to Fred Irvine of Miami, Fla. 15 April 1958.