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NavSource Online: Patrol Craft Sweeper
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Armistead Rust (AGS 9)
ex-PCS-1404



Call sign:
Nan - Tare - Sugar - Uncle

ex-PC-1404

PCS-1376 Class Patrol Craft Sweeper:

  • Laid down as PC-1404 by Colberg Boat Works, Stockton, CA
  • Reclassified PCS-1404 in April 1943
  • Launched 12 November 1943
  • Commissioned USS PCS-1404, 30 March 1944
  • Reclassified as a Hydrographic Survey Ship, AGS-9 and named Armistead Rust, 20 March 1945
  • Decommissioned 9 June 1946 at Naval Station Subic Bay, Philippines
  • Transferred to the State Department, Foreign Liquidation Commission in October 1948
  • Sold 27 October 1948
  • Fate unknown.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 245 t.(lt), 338 t.(fl)
  • Length 136'
  • Beam 24' 6"
  • Draft 8' 7"
  • Speed 14.1 kts.
  • Complement 57
  • Armament: One 3"/50 dual purpose mount, one single 40mm gun mount, two 20mm gun mounts, four depth charge projectors, one depth charge projector (hedgehog) and two depth charge tracks
  • Propulsion: Two 800bhp General Motors 8-268A diesel engine, Snow and Knobstedt single reduction gear, two shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS PCS-1404
    PCS-1404 296k 15 June 1944
    PCS-1404, en route to Saipan, being refueled at sea by an unidentified vessel. LST-277 is in the background
    U.S. Air Force photo A63650AC from the National Archives ID No. 193832778    		 David Upton
    Photo added 28 March 2021
    PCS-1404 40k c. 1944 Robert Hurst
    USS Armistead Rust (AGS 9)
    PCS-1404 191k
    Namesake:

    Born in Campbell County, Va., 12 July 1862, Armistead Rust graduated from the Academy in 1885. During his naval career he served aboard Richmond, Saratoga, Constellation and Ranger. Upon retiring from the Navy 22 July 1919, he became Superintendent of Massachusetts Nautical Academy. Serving in this position until 29 April 1932, Captain Rust, an authority in navigation, simplified the survey and star identification tables. Captain Rust died 29 December 1941 at Annapolis, Md.
    Library of Congress photo

    		 Bill Gonyo
    Amistead Rust 50k c. 1945.
    Her submarine chaser lines are readily apparent
    U.S. Navy Photo NH 84645 from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships    		 Original photo: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
    Replacement photo: Robert Hurst
    Commanding Officers
    01LT W. H. Beatty, Jr., USNR30 March 1944 - November 1945
    02LT Frederick Eugen Sturmer, USNRNovember 1945
    03LTJG Felix Theodore Grous, USNJanuary 1946 - 9 June 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Joe Radigan
    View the Armistead Rust (AGS-9)
    DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway website
    Additional Resources and Websites of Interest
    Patrol Craft Sailors Association
    Back to the Main Photo Index Back to the Patrol Craft/Gunboat
    /Submarine Chaser Index    		 Back to the Patrol Craft Sweeper (PCS) Photo Index Back to the Auxiliary Ship Index Back to the Survey Ship (AGS) Photo Index
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    This page created by Gary P. Priolo and maintained by Tom Bateman
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