Thanks for finding that picture of PC-1178! That photo wasn't in the binder that I received from my uncle. Nice.

There was some information on that class of ships. It was 179 feet long. Of course ships and boats much smaller can cross oceans, but for the Americans in WWII, the 179' patrol class was the smallest ship that the Navy used by itself for travelling across open ocean. Everything smaller (landing craft, etc) crossed oceans on other ships.

Yes I do, having worked as a web graphics designer for 18 years (no work to be found anymore) and now working as a freelance artist. Painting stuff by hand takes SO long.

Lenght is but a part of the equation. They had a draft of 10 fr, a complement of 60 men or so and had to carry a gun, anti-aircraft guns, depth charges. Warship typically have (much) more crew onboard than civilina watch. Simply put, they need to carry at least 3 times the crew ordinary used, as to be fully operational 24/7. So, extended sea service in such ships was exhausting.

Corvettes assigned to the Atlantic duty were a bit longer ( 62,5 m ), had more draft , but 90 men on board. Wheather on the northern convoy routes ( Halifax - Northern Ireland) was at best a challenge, but Arctic duty (Murmansk bound convoys ) was nightmarish. The old battleships assigned to convoy escort suffered badly, and they were large, with considerable draft and somewhat spacious. ) Just imagine what was life then on the corvettes (60 or 80 degree rolls were not uncomon ( meaning the ship sailed alternating a 40° inclination on each board ) or even on destroyer escorts.

Still, sub-chasers or corvettes were small enough to be produced in small civilian shipyards ( used to producing trawlers ) , were cheap, and thus made up half of the escort capabilities.

I haven't been in the forums this week so I missed seeing this thread. Really nice giveaway.

As a yankee I am in a non-British Commonwealth country so I usually pay my respects on our American Veterans Day instead of Poppy Day, but I hope you don't mind me throwing this info out in remembrance of those who served as Allies from America.

My paternal Grandfather was a Merchant Marine during WW2 and made numerous voyages in Liberty ships in convoys to deliver war materials to Great Britain. His ship was never directly hit during the many German U-boat attacks on his convoys, though they picked up many survivors that had been hit.

My other Grandfather was stationed in the Aleutian Islands during the pretty much all but forgotten Aleutian Islands Campaign during WW2. From what I know I believe he was involved in the Battle of Attu, I'm not sure if he was at Massacre Bay during the massive 2,300+ man Japanese banzai charge though. But what I do know is that whatever hell he went through it bonded him to such a degree with his brothers in arms that they came from all over the country to pack the church at his funeral over sixty years later.

My Uncle served in the US Navy on a Destroyer in the Pacific. He was in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal and several other major engagements, but the Battle of Okinawa was the big one. From what I have researched, his ship was likely hit by the kamikaze plane while on picket duty. One direct hit and multiple near misses by other kamikaze attacks. Those that survived on his ship met together again once a year, every year, and I believe that he never missed one reunion himself. Band of brothers, indeed.