HMS Perim (K593), ex-Sierra Leone, was a Colony-class frigate of the United Kingdom that served during World War II. She originally was ordered by the United States Navy as the Tacoma-class patrol frigate USS Phillimore (PF-89) and was transferred to the Royal Navy prior to completion.

History
United States
NameUSS Phillimore
NamesakeBritish name assigned in anticipation of ship's transfer to United Kingdom
ReclassifiedPatrol frigate, PF-89, 15 April 1943
BuilderWalsh-Kaiser Company, Providence, Rhode Island
Laid down7 October 1943[1]
RenamedSierra Leone, 1943
NamesakeSierra Leone
RenamedPerim, 1943
NamesakePerim
Launched5 November 1943
IdentificationPG-197
FateTransferred to United Kingdom 16 March 1944
United Kingdom
NameHMS Perim
NamesakePerim
Acquired16 March 1944
Commissioned16 March 1944[1]
Decommissioned1945[2]
IdentificationPennant number: K593
FateReturned to United States 22 May 1946, Scrapped 1947
General characteristics
Class and typeColony/Tacoma-class patrol frigate
Displacement1,264 long tons (1,284 t)
Length303 ft 11 in (92.63 m)
Beam37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)
Draft13 ft 8 in (4.17 m)
Propulsion
  • 3 × boilers
  • 2 × turbines, 5,500 shp (4,100 kW) each
  • 2 shafts
Speed20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement190
Armament

Construction and acquisition

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The ship, originally designated a "patrol gunboat," PG-197, was ordered by the United States Maritime Commission under a United States Navy contract as USS Phillimore. She was reclassified as a "patrol frigate," PF-89, on 15 April 1943 and laid down by the Walsh-Kaiser Company at Providence, Rhode Island, on 7 October 1943.[1] Intended for transfer to the United Kingdom, the ship was first renamed Sierra Leone and then Perim by the British prior to launching and was launched on 5 November 1943.

Service history

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Transferred to the United Kingdom under Lend-Lease on 16 March 1944, the ship served in the Royal Navy as HMS Perim (K593). Her first commanding officer was Nicholas Monsarrat. Conducting work-ups off Bermuda, she damaged her main bearings during each of her first 13 sea trials before the problem was identified and corrected and she completed trials successfully on her fourteenth try.[1] She then served on patrol and escort duty until decommissioned in 1945.[2]

Disposal

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The United Kingdom returned Perim to the U.S. Navy on 22 May 1946. She was scrapped in 1947.

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d uboat.net HMS Perim (K 593)
  2. ^ a b According to uboat.net HMS Perim (K 593), Perim is not listed as an active unit on the October 1945 Navy List, strongly implying that the Royal Navy decommissioned her sometime earlier that year.

Bibliography

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