The PCE-842-class patrol craft were United States Navy patrol craft escorts designed during World War II that were intended for coastal and convoy escort. The design was derived from the as a substitute for the s that were used for anti-submarine warfare in coastal areas. At 185 feet long and 640 tons, the PCE is more than twice the displacement of the PC. It has a crew complement of 99 officers and men.
Development and design
The Admirable class had been developed as a smaller minesweeper than the and s, which would be cheaper and easier to build, while still having good seakeeping capabilities in high seas. An escort derivative of the new design was proposed for supply under the Lend-Lease scheme to Britain's Royal Navy, and when the United States Navy realized that a shortage of engines might prevent it from receiving additional s beyond those already on order, it was decided to build the escort variant, designated as Patrol Craft Escort for both the US Navy and Royal Navy. The ships were long overall and between perpendiculars, with a beam of and a draft of. Displacement was standard and full load. They were powered by two General Motors 12-278A diesel engines driving two shafts via single reduction gearing. This gave a speed of. The ships had a range of at. The normal armament on completion consisted of a single 3"/50 caliber gun| gun forward, two 40 mmanti-aircraft guns, backed up by 4 or 5 Oerlikon 20 mm cannon. A Hedgehoganti-submarine mortar was mounted between the 3 inch gun and the ship's bridge, while depth charge projectors and rails were mounted on the ships' fantail. Later ships were fitted with a third Bofors gun and additional Oerlikons, while ships were later modified to mount three twin Bofors mounts and four Oerlikons. Some ships were armed with two 3-inch guns and three Oerlikons.
Detection equipment
The class was fitted with radar, sonar and other detection equipment for ASW.
Conversions
Some PCEs later were converted to PCE, Rescue Escorts, and to Amphibious Control Vessels, PCE that were used in many U.S. amphibious landing operations in World War II, especially Leyte Gulf and Normandy.
Production
Sixty-eight Patrol Craft Escorts were built for the US Navy, and seventeen were delivered under the Lend-Lease Program to Allies during World War II. The PCEs proved to be an inexpensive substitute for larger and more valuable destroyers and destroyer escorts in convoy escort work.
In 2014, the Philippine Navy still operates the with six PCEs as gun corvettes, with all the ships' ASW equipment already removed. The PCE is the most numerous major ship class of the Philippine Navy that, at one time, numbered more than ten vessels.
