USS Racine, PF-100
A city in Wisconsin.
Builder: American Shipbuilding Co., Cleveland, Ohio
Length: 303' 11"
Beam: 37' 6"
Draft: 12' 8" fl
Displacement: 2,230 tons
Propulsion: 2-shaft VTE, 3 boilers
Range: 9,500 nm at 12 knots
Top speed: 20 knots
Complement: 190
Armament: 3 x 3"/50; 4 x 40mm (2x2); 9 x 20mm; 1 x Hedgehog, 8 x depth charge projectors; 2 x depth charge racks. For those frigates fitted out for weather patrol duty, the after 3-inch gun was removed and a weather balloon hanger was added aft.
History:
The first Racine (PF-100) was laid down by the American Shipbuilding Co., Cleveland, Ohio on 14 September 1943. She was launched 15 March 1944 and was sponsored by Mrs. Francis H. Wendt. She was commissioned 22 January 1945 at Houston, Texas under the command of LCDR C. H. Waring, USCG.
A Navy frigate manned by the Coast Guard, Racine underwent shakedown off Bermuda and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, escorting the Italian submarine Atropo from one to the other. Returning to the east coast, she departed Norfolk 2 April for Oran, Algeria, with convoy UGS 84, returning to the United States with convoy GUS 86. After training exercises in Casco Bay, Maine, and conversion at New York to a weather patrol type for distant duty, Racine steamed 7 August for the Panama Canal and Pearl Harbor. On 6 September she departed Pearl Harbor for Tacloban, Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands, arriving 23 September to serve as a weather station ship. On 14 April 1946 she departed Samar, Philippine Islands, to return to the United States, arriving Seattle 12 May.
Racine decommissioned at Bremerton, Washington 27 June 1946 and was struck from the Navy list 19 July 1946. She was sold to Franklin Ship Wrecking Co., Hillside, New Jersey on 2 December 1947 for scrapping.
Sources:
The Coast Guard At War, Transports and Escorts, Vol. V, No. 1.
Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1922-1946. London: Conway Maritime Press, 1992, pp. 148-149.
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. VI, p. 12.