USS Corpus Christi (PF-44)

USS Corpus Christi (PF-44)
History
United States
Name	Corpus Christi
Namesake	City of Corpus Christi, Texas
Builder	Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California
Laid down	17 July 1943
Launched	17 August 1943
Commissioned	29 January 1944
Decommissioned	2 August 1946
Fate	Sold, 3 October 1947
General characteristics
Class and type	Tacoma-class frigate
Displacement	1,430 long tons (1,453 t) light 2,415 long tons (2,454 t) full
Length	303 ft 11 in (92.63 m)
Beam	37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)
Draft	13 ft 8 in (4.17 m)
Propulsion	2 × 5,500 shp (4,101 kW) turbines 3 boilers 2 shafts
Speed	20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement	190
Armament	3 × 3"/50 dual purpose guns (3x1) 4 x 40 mm guns (2×2) 9 × 20 mm guns (9×1) 1 × Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar 8 × Y-gun depth charge projectors 2 × Depth charge tracks

USS Corpus Christi (PF-44), a Tacoma-class frigate, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for Corpus Christi, Texas.

Corpus Christi (PF-44) was launched 17 August 1943, by Consolidated Steel Corp., Wilmington, California; sponsored by Mrs. C. Driscoll; commissioned 29 January 1944, at San Pedro, California and reported to the Pacific Fleet.

Corpus Christi cleared San Pedro on 31 May 1944, sailing for Nouméa, Cairns, and Perth, Western Australia, arriving 18 July. Here she had duty aiding submarines in exercises and training under Commander, Submarines, 7th Fleet. Corpus Christi was twice commended for unusual accomplishments while under this command, first for locating and rescuing 92 survivors of the torpedoed SS Peter Silvester in the Indian Ocean 13 February 1945 after an extended search by all available ships of the United States and Australian Navies, and second, for refueling the British battleship HMS Howe at sea between 13 and 15 June.

Corpus Christi stood out of Perth 27 August 1945 for Manus, Pearl Harbor, and San Pedro, arriving 3 October. Here she was converted into a weather ship at Terminal Island. Corpus Christi was on loan to the Coast Guard from 15 April to 5 July 1946. She was decommissioned 2 August 1946 and sold 3 October 1947.

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

• Photo gallery of Corpus Christi at NavSource Naval History
• hazegray.org: USS Corpus Christi