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NavSource Online: Eagle-Class Patrol Craft
Photo Archive

PE-59



Call sign (1924):
Nan - Item - Charlie - Mike

ex-Eagle No. 59



Call sign (1919):
George - Have - King - Watch

Eagle Class Patrol Craft:

  • Laid down 31 March 1919 by Ford Motor Co., Detroit, MI
  • Launched 12 April 1919
  • Commissioned USS Eagle No. 59, 19 September 1919
  • Designated PE-59, 17 July 1920
  • Sold 29 August 1938
  • Fate unknown.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 615 t.
  • Length 200' 9"
  • Beam 33' 1"
  • Draft 8' 6"
  • Speed 18.3 kts.
  • Complement 61
  • Armament: Two 4"/50 gun mounts, and two .50 cal. machine guns
  • Propulsion: Two 250psi Thorny-Croft Bureau Mod. boilers, one 2,500shp Poole turbine, Ford single reduction gear, one shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image
    Size Image Description Source
    Eagle No. 59
    PE-2 391k 3 April 1919
    Under construction
    The Henry Ford - The Rouge website
    Photos added 8 November 2019
    PE-2 120k 12 April 1919
    Prior to launching
    PE-2 93k 12 April 1919
    After launching
    PE-59 68k From an undated picture post card. Inscription reads: "Worlds record built in 10 days and 22 hours." Richard Leonhardt
    USS PE-59
    PE-59 133k 15 November 1920
    Undergoing inclining experiments at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH
    National Archives photo
    Dan Treadwell
    PE-59 162k
    PE-59 176k
    PE-59 167k 15 November 1920
    Undergoing inclining experiments at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH. PE-42 is directly astern and the destroyers Israel (DD 98), Taylor (DD 94) and Ringgold (DD 89) are in
    the background
    National Archives photo
    PE-59 129k 15 November 1920
    Undergoing inclining experiments at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH
    National Archives photo
    PE-59 141
    PE-59 202k
    PE-59 163k
    PE-59 302k Eagle boats PE-26 on the left side of the picture with the PE-59 on the right during the Naval Review on the Hudson River, New York City on 27 July 1923. The boats and launch are traveling north with Grants Tomb on the right. The white river steamer is approximately west of 125th street. It is believed that the PE's were anchored in the Naval Anchorage off the 125th street area and the two launches were carrying dignitaries during the review. Before and after WW II, there was a battleship anchorage with buoys north of 125th street.
    Photo from the ADM Joseph Peck Collection
    Bob Daly/PC-1181
    PE-59, 60, 52, 26, 51 & 44 198k 21 July 1938
    Philadelphia, PA
    Photo caption: "PHILADELPHIA - 21 July - UNCLE SAM IN BOAT BUSINESS - These six decommissioned "Eagle Boats" built during World War days to chase subs, are tied up at the Navy Yard here, awaiting the highest bidder. Navy officials will open bids Aug. 18. (AP Wire photo) (h50845pxb) 1938)"
    From Michael Strout's collection of Associated Press photos
    Jonathan Eno

    View the PE-59
    DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway website
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back to the Patrol Craft/Gunboat/Submarine Chaser Ship Index Back to the Eagle Class Patrol Craft (PE) Photo Index

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    This page created by Joseph M. Radigan and maintained by Tom Bateman
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