US Navy Small Craft Training Centers (SCTC) were United States Navy training bases used to train sailors in the operation of the many small wooden crafts used in World War II . These crafts were given the nickname Splinter Fleet . There was a shortage of steel and steel shipyards during World War II, so there was a need for a vast wooden fleet of crafts. The Small Craft Training Centers had classrooms and crafts for training. The bases had barrack housing and mess halls . To get the men and crafts out into the field quickly, at many of the bases men trained on new ships . The new ships were at the center for about 4 weeks as part of the vessel's sea trial . Tugboats , Minesweepers , Net laying ships , Crash boats , PT boats and other crafts built near the center were taken to the Small Craft Training Centers for testing. Crafts built at Lynch Shipbuilding in San Diego, California were taken to the Small Craft Training Center at Terminal Island , San Pedro, California for their sea trial. Lynch Shipbuilding built tugboats , and minesweepers. Some of the craft at the Terminal Island school were: USS Density (AM-218) , USS Waxsaw (AN-91) , and USS Climax (AM-161) , USS Wateree (ATF-117) , USS Quest (AM-281) , USS Snowbell (AN-52) . The US Navy also had Small Craft Training Centers in Miami, Florida , Santa Barbara, California , New Orleans , Louisiana and other sites.
15-563: World War II Small Craft Training Centers: Submarine Chaser Training Center (SCTC) was a US Navy School for training seamen in the use and care for Submarine chasers (PC & SC), used in World War II to hunt Nazi Germany naval submarines , U-boats . Submarine Chaser Training Center was founded in March 1942. The Chaser Training Center was stationed at the old Port of Miami at Pier 2, near downtown on Biscayne Boulevard . Most sub chasers had
30-515: A 3-pounder gun , towed paravanes to attack submarines and, later, depth charges . Additional motor launches of the Fairmile A , Fairmile B and other classes were built for World War II. The British sub chasers were operated around the coast in defence. However, they were uncomfortable, wet and not suited to British sea conditions. Although used during the First World War, they were sold when
45-527: A crew of 3 officers and 24 enlisted men. Crews had 60 days of training at the center after completing 90 days of basic training. Swim test and Swim training was done at Miami Beach, Florida . Sub chasers were also used in the Pacific War in anti-submarine warfare . Due to the small crafts and large task, some gave the Submarine chasers the nickname Donald Duck Navy . The former Submarine Chaser Training Center
60-757: Is a type of small naval vessel that is specifically intended for anti-submarine warfare . They encompass designs that are now largely obsolete, but which played an important role in the wars of the first half of the 20th century. Many of the American submarine chasers used in World War I found their way to Allied nations by way of Lend-Lease in World War II . U.S. Navy submarine chasers were designed specifically to destroy German submarines in World War I , and Japanese and German submarines in World War II . The small 110-foot (34 m) SC-1-class submarine chasers of
75-571: Is located near the current Museum Park . A few of the craft that were used for training and sea trails at the center were: USS PGM-3 , USS PC-1137 , USS PC-1264 , and USS SC-1470 Submarine Chaser Training School (SCTS) was a US Navy School at Columbia University in City of New York . Training was for work on destroyers to hunt U-boats. The destroyer USS Andres was stationed at the Submarine Chaser Training School. In June 1969
90-579: Is the Royal Norwegian Navy 's HNoMS Hitra , which is a touring museum today. A World War II type submarine chaser built in 1953, originally PC1610 , is being restored in the Netherlands as Le Fougueux . Ordnance QF 3-pounder Vickers The Ordnance QF 3-pounder Vickers (47 mm / L50) was a British artillery piece first tested in Britain in 1903. It was used on Royal Navy warships. It
105-567: The British Admiralty selected the US Electric Launch Company (Elco) for the production of 50 motor launches for anti-submarine work, British industry being at maximum capacity. This order was eventually increased by a further 530. The whole order was completed by November 1916, and the vessels entered Royal Navy service. The vessels were 80 feet (24 m) in length and capable of 20 knots (37 km/h). They were armed with
120-608: The Soviet Union between 26 May and 2 September 1945, and some of these saw action in the Soviet Navy during Soviet military operations against the Japanese between 9 August and 2 September 1945. The transfer of 24 more was canceled when transfers halted on 5 September 1945, three days after the Japanese surrender . Between 1954 and 1960 all 32 transferred submarine chasers were scrapped by
135-553: The Navy opened Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School that currently is headquartered at John C. Stennis Space Center , Mississippi . The School has classes in: Patrol Craft Operations, Patrol Craft Propulsion Systems Overhaul, Patrol Craft Hull Maintenance, Outboard Motor Maintenance and Overhaul, Patrol Craft Weapons Maintenance, Instructor Development Course, and Rule of Law and Disciplined Military Operations. Submarine chaser A submarine chaser or subchaser
150-568: The Soviet Union or destroyed off its coast by mutual agreement between the two countries. In the decade immediately after World War II, the Soviet Union built 227 Kronshtadt-class submarine chasers , some of which remained in active service until the 1990s. Rapid developments in submarine technologies since World War II mean that submarine chasers are now obsolete, having been replaced by corvettes , frigates , and destroyers . The only remaining submarine chaser with intact World War II armament
165-692: The US in World War II, and included the SC-1466 class of sub-chasers. The Imperial Japanese Navy had around 250 submarine chasers in World War II, principally about 200 of the No.1-class auxiliary submarine chasers . Some of these survived to serve in the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) after the war. During Project Hula , the United States secretly transferred 32 U.S. Navy submarine chasers to
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#1733085255662180-548: The design used in World War I carried the hull designator SC (for S ubmarine C haser). Their main weapon was the depth charge . They also carried machine guns and anti-aircraft guns . The similar-sized SC-497-class was built for World War II. Also in World War II, larger 173-foot (53 m) PC-461-class submarine chasers used the PC hull classification symbol (for P atrol, C oastal). Class relationships: In early 1915,
195-518: The time production stopped in 1936 a total of 600 weapons had been made. By 1911 about 193 guns of this type were in service, and they became standard equipment in the Royal Navy until 1915. In that year, service during the First World War proved these weapons to be ineffective and they were quickly removed from most of the larger ships, some were mounted in armoured lorries as the main armaments of
210-574: The war ended. Submarine chasers were used mostly by the United States Coast Guard in World War II for destroying German U-boats that were stationed off the coast of the United States that were trying to sink merchant convoys as they departed American ports. In the Pacific Theatre , submarine chasers were used for amphibious landings , courier and escort duty. Eight British Fairmile B motor launches were transferred from Canada to
225-527: Was more powerful than and unrelated to the older QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss , with a propellant charge approximately twice as large, but it initially fired the same Lyddite and steel shells as the Hotchkiss. Starting in 1904, the Royal Navy bought over 154 of these for use as anti- torpedo boat weapons on capital ships and to arm smaller ships. British production of these guns started in 1905 at Vickers and by
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