USS Tacoma (PGM-92)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Tacoma.
USS Tacoma (PGM-92)
History
United States
NameTacoma
NamesakeCity of Tacoma, Washington
BuilderTacoma Boatbuilding Company
Laid down24 July 1967
Launched13 April 1968
Commissioned14 July 1969
Decommissioned30 September 1981
Homeport
MottoFearless to challenge all valor
Honors and
awards		2 Battle Stars
FateLeased to the Colombian National Armada as Quita Sueño, 16 May 1983; sold to Colombia on 20 September 1995[1]
General characteristics
Displacement247 tons (full load)
Length165 ft (50 m)
Beam24 ft (7.3 m)
Draft5 ft (1.5 m)
PropulsionCODOG (Combined Diesel and Gas turbine
Speed37.5 knots
Complement24
Armament

USS Tacoma (PG-92) was an Asheville-class gunboat of the U.S. Navy and the fourth ship to be named after the city of Tacoma, Washington. Tacoma was the first in a series of revised Asheville-class gunboats.[2] Some sources call these revised boats Tacoma- or PG-92-class,[3] but the U.S. Navy officially designates them as Asheville-class.[4] The keel of Tacoma was laid 24 July 1967 at the Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, in her namesake city. She was launched on 13 April 1968, sponsored by Mrs. Arne K. Strom, and was commissioned on 14 July 1969.

Originally fitted with a 40 mm cannon aft, Tacoma was re-fitted with a 20 mm for training. In addition to the dual mounts for .50 caliber machine guns on the O-1 level, there were mounts for twin M-60 machine guns on the O-2 level. Either could be replaced with the Mk 19 grenade launcher.

The Tacoma was powered by a combination of two Cummins Diesel engines and a General Electric LM-1500 Gas Turbine. Pneumatic actuators allowed the power source to be switched between the two sources. The Controllable Reversible Pitch (CRP) propellers allowed the ship to stop in as little as two ship lengths from top speed. Top speed on the gas turbine was in excess of 42 knots.[5]

  1. ^ "World Navies Today: US Navy Vessels Decommissioned Since 1980". Haze Gray & Underway. 2003-03-10. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  2. ^ "Descriptions and Histories". Patrol Gunboat Reunion Association. 2006-10-12. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  3. ^ "PG 84 Asheville". GlobalSecurity.org. 2005-02-05. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  4. ^ For example, see: "Tacoma". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. United States Navy. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  5. ^ ENS Mark W. Swarthout, Chief Engineer, USS Tacoma PG-92, 1981 | date = 1981 | accessdate = 2007-10-26