USS Havre (PCE(C)-877) was a United States Navy escort in commission from 14 February 1944 to 1 July 1970. She served in the Central Pacific during World War II, supporting invasions of Battle of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Okinawa, and was present in Tokyo Bay for the formal Surrender of Japan on 2 September 1945. Unlike other ships from this class, which were scrapped or sold to other nations, the vessel stayed the property of the United States Navy, which transferred ownership to the United States Navy Reserve as Naval Reserve Training Ship for 9th Naval District (Chicago) in April 1954. She was renamed Havre (PCE-877) on 15 February 1956 as part of a Navy-wide initiative to provide names to all numbered ships. Havre served on the Great Lakes until struck from Navy List on 1 July 1970.
Construction and commissioning
Havre was laid down on 6 May 1943 at Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon, as Patrol Craft Escort, PCE-877. The PCEs were designed for general escort work and provided a cheaper and quicker alternative to the larger destroyers, while maintaining a substantial amount of detection and ranging gear used for locating submarines. The ship was launched on 11 August 1943. The launching of the PCE 877 was a celebrated occasion that was noted in the 10 August 1943 edition of the Corvallis Gazette-Times of Corvallis, Oregon. On 11 August 1943, Marjorie L. Wooton, daughter of local Colonel Elmer V. Wooton, recent recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army), christened the PCE 877 in the presence of a crowd that included Oregon governor Earl Snell.
PCE-877 was commissioned on 14 February 1944 at the Albina Engine & Machine Works shipyard, Portland, Oregon. According to the U.S. Navy Muster Rolls, PCE-877 set out with Commanding Officer Coleman H. Smith, Lieutenant, USNR, Executive Officer John R. Shea Jr., Lieutenant, USNR, several additional officers and an initial crew of 87. The vessel received its fitting out and shakedown over the next six weeks, departing Portland, Oregon on 25 February 1944, docking in Astoria, Oregon on 26 February 1944, arriving in San Pedro, California (SCTC Terminal Island) on 6 March 1944, before finally arriving at Naval Base San Diego, California on 21 March 1944.
Service history
World War II Pacific Theatre operations
Initial Deployment, Conversion to Control Vessel
Starting 1 April 1944, PCE-877 began its escort duties as Patrol and Escort, Central Pacific region, while still based at Naval Base San Diego. At 1200 hours on 11 September 1944, PCE-877 officially was underway to Naval Station Pearl Harbor as part of Task Unit 116.1.2. The ship proceeded to the northern part of San Clemente Island, California where the crew "ran a measured mile to check the accuracy and adjust our newly installed DRT (Dead Reckoning Tracer)."
At 1030 hours 19 September 1944, PCE-877 arrived at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii for conversion to a Central Control Vessel for Amphibious Force. The Navy control groups were responsible for the control of the assault waves of landing ships, landing craft, and amphibious vehicles from the transport and landing ship areas to the landing beaches. From 20 September 1944 to 3 November 1944 the ship was docked at D.E. Dock #1 Pearl Harbor for the installation of radio and communications equipment. During this period, the crew "conducted various exercises and tests throughout month. All gun crews attended AA schools. Damage Control parties attended fire fighting school. AS/W attack team spent one day operating with tame submerging and attended attack teacher a total of 8 hours."
Refitting was completed on 2 December 1944, and for six days PCE-877 acted as Officer in tactical command (OTC) for a training group of control vessels between Pearl Harbor and Waianae, Hawaii. A second series of drills and exercises starting 18 December 1944 running nine days saw PCE-877 acting as an Escort Commander for screening and as a Line of Departure Control Vessel in simulated landing operations.
On 14 December 1944, Lieutenant Coleman H. Smith, USNR, was relieved as Commanding Officer of PCE-877 by Lieutenant John R. Shea Jr., USNR. Lieutenant James B. Brady, USNR was promoted to Executive Officer. (Lt. Smith would advance to the rank of Commander, and after the war was a long-serving director of the War Gaming Department at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.)
PCE-877 participated in several additional exercises on 3 January 1945 (three days) and 11 January 1945 (eight days) as part of Administrative Command Amphibious Forces, US Pacific Fleet. The ship was ordered to move to mooring Easy 7 at Pearl Harbor for logistics and supply.
Battle of Iwo Jima
On 22 January 1945, PCE-877 departed Pearl Harbor as part of Task Force 51, Joint Expeditionary Force, Commander Amphibious Forces Pacific 53.3, conducting screening operations for Tractor Group BAKER en route to Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands, arriving 3 February 1945. After two days of logistics and resupply, Tractor Group BAKER continued on to Saipan, the largest island of the Northern Mariana Islands, with PCE-877 continuing patrol and screening operations. The group arrived in Saipan Harbor the morning of 10 February 1945.
Starting 12 February 1945, the PCE 877 continued as Central Control Vessel as part of nighttime landing exercises. There was difficulty in re-embarking the LVTs (Landing Vehicle Tracked), as their parent LST (Landing Ship Tank) had moved to a sheltered position, and PCE-877 "acted as a guide to round up stray LVTs and help them to their mother ship."
After completing logistical operations in Saipan Harbor, PCE-877 shipped out at 1350 hours on 15 February 1945, proceeding as part of TU 51.13.6, performing screening operations for Tractor Group BAKER, en route to Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, to join the invasion force. On 18 February 1945, PCE-877 encountered a radar contact at 2,000 yards, readied for a depth charge attack, but "at 300 yards it became apparent that our contact was [a school of] large fish."
At 0540 of 19 February 1945, PCE-877 secured from screening operations and proceeded independently to assume duties as Central Control Vessel. Once at the transport area, the ship began dispatching waves of landing craft on schedule. All assault waves were dispatched on schedule, and the ship maintained station for the entire day, except when on standby as rescue vessel for the U.S.S. LSM 211 (Landing Ship Medium) - (see List of United States Navy Landing Ship Medium (LSMs)), which had been damaged by mortar fire. PCE-877 was under fire several times, but received no hits. PCE-877 stayed on station until 21 February 1945, then left station and conducted rescue and salvage operations, aiding stray and sinking LVTs and LCVP (United States). Rough seas caused several craft to drift seaward. "One LVT was stripped of salvageable items and sunk by gunfire from this vessel." This LVT eventually collided with PCE-877's starboard propeller while tied alongside, causing slight damage.
On 22 February 1945, the ship conducted patrols in the area, and two days later joined TU 51.2 for screening duties as the convoy left the operations area en route to Leyte, Philippines by way of Saipan. On 2 March 1945, PCE-877 anchored in the outer harbor of Saipan and proceeded with logistics, but was not able to complete refueling in the short time allowed for the group, and continued underway on 3 March 1945. At 1630 on 9 March 1945 PCE-877 anchored off Dulag, Leyte. Starting 10 March 1945, the ship took aboard stores and provisions and made repairs on sound gear (due to a transformer failure) and on the starboard screw. The damage to the propeller caused "excessive vibrations which had been present at speeds between 11 and 14 knots." Starting 15 March 1945, PCE-877 acted as the central control vessel directing practice landings on Leyte, while completing the sonar and propeller repairs over ten days.
Battle of Okinawa On 24 March 1945 PCE-877 departed Leyte Bay with ComLST Flotilla 21 en route for Okinawa. The fleet encountered six days of increasing high seas (categorized as "high" with up to 30 foot waves on the Douglas sea scale and winds topping 55 knots). The storm ended on 31 March 1945, and the fleet arrived on 1 April 1945 to waters off Okinawa Island.
PCE-877 was detached from screening duties and proceeded to attack station, which was assumed on schedule. "Enemy aircraft caused interference for a short period of time during approach to station, but the principal cause of concern was the closeness of our own ship's anti-aircraft fire.". The ship went on night retirement with units of Tractor Group "Dog", and was able to refuel on 2 April 1945. Working again at night that evening with Tractor Group "Dog", an "error in navigation led the group into dangerous water on the west side of Mae Shima [sic - Maejima] and this ship left screening station to keep clear of the reefs.". Later that morning at 0118 3 April 1945 a mine-like object was sighted and sunk by small arms fire from PCE-877. The ship continued on night work for several days, and managed to avoid "suicide planes" that attacked ships in the transport area. "Friendly ships fired and shot down three FMs Mitsubishi F1M over land in the vicinity of the airstrip east of Purple Beach."
On 8 April 1945, PCE-877 proceeded from an anchorage off the western beaches of Okinawa to anchor in Karame Retto harbor (Kerama Islands), and the next day rendezvoused with the flotilla and proceeded to Guam. Along the way on 10 April 1945 the ship made an urgent attack with a shallow pattern of depth charges on what turned out to be a whale. On 13 April 1945, the crew received news of the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and a five-minute silence and prayer in his memory was observed on 14 April 1945. On 16 April orders came in that the group was to be diverted to Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands for a 21-day availability, arriving 17 April 1945. Over these three weeks, the main engine was overhauled, further repairs to the starboard propeller we attempted and continued vibration issues reported to Service Squadron Ten.
On 13 May 1945, PCE-877 reported ready for sea, and was assigned as an escort vessel for Task Unit 94.18.10 heading back to Okinawa, departing 15 May 1945. The ship arrived at Okinawa 21 May 1945 and was ordered to continue screening and patrolling off the western beaches of Okinawa. At 2140 on 24 May 1945, "an enemy Betty (Mitsubishi G4M bomber) flying at 2000 ft. was taken under fire. 3 rounds of 3"/50; 119 rounds of 40MM and 97 rounds of 20MM ammunition were expended." Numerous enemy raids were reported over the next several days, but PCE-877 received no hits, nor expended ammunition.