Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable And As Informative As Possible.

NavSource Online: Frigate Photo Archive

Allentown (PF 52)



Call sign:
November - Zulu - Yankee - Romeo

ex-PG-160


Allentown served the Navies of the United States, the Soviet Union and Japan.
Tacoma Class Patrol Frigate:

  • (MC Type T. S2-S2-AQ1) Originally authorized as Patrol Gunboat, PG-160
  • Reclassified a Patrol Frigate, PF-52, 15 April 1943
  • Laid down under a Maritime Commission contract by Froemming Brothers Inc., Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Launched, 3 July 1943
  • Commissioned USS Allentown (PF-52), 24 March 1944
  • Decommissioned, 12 July 1945 at Cold Harbor, Alaska
  • Transferred under the Lend-Lease Program to the Soviet Union and renamed EK-9, 13 July 1945
  • Assigned to the Pacific Fleet 23 July 1945
  • Participated in the landing of troops in Yuki (Ungi), Japan 12 August 1945 and Seysin (Chongjin), Korea 15 August 1945
  • Returned to U.S. custody 15 October 1949 at Yokosuka, Japan and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Yokosuka
  • Transferred on loan to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force 2 April 1953 and renamed Ume (PF 289)
  • Reclassified as an Auxiliary Stock Craft, YAC-14, 31 March 1965
  • Decommissioned 31 March 1970
  • Returned to U.S. custody 12 July 1971
  • Fate unknown.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 1,430 t.
  • Length, 303' 11"
  • Beam 37' 6"
  • Draft 13' 8"
  • Speed 20.3 kts.
  • Complement 190
  • Armament: Three 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts, two twin 40mm gun mounts, nine 20mm guns, one Hedgehog depth charge projector, eight Y-gun depth charge projectors and two depth charge tracks
  • Propulsion: Two 240psi 3-drum express boilers, two 5,500ihp vertical triple expansion J. Hendy Iron Works engines, two shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Allentown (PF 52)
    Allentown 88k Postcard of launching Tommy Trampp
    Photo added 17 March 2020
    Allentown 123k Post card, postmarked 14 November 1943, Milwaukee, WI Paul Petosky
    USS Allentown (PF 52)
    Allentown 314k From the collection of Richard H. Walther Richard H. Walther, Jr.
    Allentown 94k c. August 1944
    National Archives photo from Allied Escort Ships of World War II by Peter Elliott    		 Krlicbegovic Edib
    Bosnia & Hercegovina
    Allentown 74k Underway near the Norfolk Navy Yard, 9 August 1944. Note the high-frequency direction-finder ("huff-duff") antenna atop the light pole mast, aft, and air-search radar at the top of the foremast. The ship is painted in Measure 32/16D camouflage, the colors of which are dull black, ocean grey and light grey
    National Archives photo 19-N-72013 from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships    		 Original photo: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
    Replacement photo: Robert Hurst
    Allentown 74k 9 August 1944
    Wearing Measure 32/16D
    National Archives photo 80-G-248498    		 Robert Hurst
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR Garland Weldonne Collins, USCG24 March 1944 - 31 January 1945
    02LCDR Edward Gregory Cardwell, USCG31 January 1945 - 12 July 1945
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    View the Allentown (PF-52)
    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 Patrol Gunboat (PG) Photo Index Back to the Patrol Frigate (PF) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster
    This page created by Gary P. Priolo and maintained by Tom Bateman
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History