USS Surprise (PG-97)
Encyclopedia
The fourth USS Surprise and fifth American naval ship of the name was an Asheville class
patrol gunboat
that served in the United States Navy
from 1969 to 1973.
, on 24 May 1968 by the Peterson Builders Shipyard, launched on 7 December 1968 sponsored by Miss Marsha L. Peterson.
Surprise was a fast gunboat
powered by geared Diesel engines for cruising, with a gas turbine
which could be cut in for high speeds. She was armed with a director-controlled 3-inch (76.2-mm) 50-caliber automatic dual-purpose gun forward and a 40-millimeter Bofors
gun aft. Pairs of .50-caliber (12.7-mm) machine guns were mounted on the upper deck amidships, one each to port and starboard.
and the St. Lawrence Seaway, USS Surprise was commissioned
at Boston Massachusetts
, on 17 October 1969, Lieutenant
William T. Shiffer, Jr., in command.
Surprise completed fitting out in Boston on 12 November 1969, when she got underway for Little Creek, Virginia. Along the way, she stopped at New York City, and loaded ammunition at Crane, New Jersey. She reached Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base on 18 November 1969 and, through the first week of 1970, she operated from that base, conducting training. During that period she also made a visit to Washington, D.C., where she demonstrated her capabilities to military and civilian officials.
On 12 January 1970, Surprise departed Little Creek for her new home port, San Diego, California
. At Mayport, Florida, she and her traveling companion, patrol gunboat , were joined by a third patrol gunboat, . The three ships made their way to Panama
via Port Everglades, Florida, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
. Surprise transited the Panama Canal
on 22 January 1970 and, on 24 January 1970, continued her voyage. The formation was joined by amphibious transport dock on 28 January 1970 and steamed into San Diego on 7 February 1970.
Surprise conducted shakedown
training out of San Diego until early April 1970. Then she engaged in normal operations until 13 May 1970, when she entered Long Beach Naval Shipyard
at Long Beach
, California, for six weeks of post-shakedown shipyard
availability. Surprise completed the yard period on 9 July 1970 and returned to San Diego. She resumed training exercises until the end of August 1970, when she reentered Long Beach Naval Shipyard.
On 20 September 1970, her home port was switched back to Little Creek, Virginia, and on 8 October 1970 she departed San Diego to return to the U.S. East Coast. She re-transited the Panama Canal on 21 October 1970 and made Little Creek on 31 October 1970. On 16 November 1970, she departed Little Creek to rendezvous with Amphibious Group 2 for a voyage to the Mediterranean. She arrived at Rota, Spain
, on 1 December 1970 and shifted operational control to the United States Sixth Fleet.
Surprise served with the Sixth Fleet until February 1973. During that period, she participated in a number of exercises both with units of foreign navies and with other elements of the Sixth Fleet. Throughout her tour, she visited numerous ports on the Mediterranean littoral, including Naples
, Souda Bay
, Monaco
, Cartageña
, and Venice. On two occasions, she ventured out of the Mediterranean. From 18 October 1971 to 22 October 1971, she visited Istanbul
, Turkey
, and, from 11 March 1972 to 15 March 1972, she put into Casablanca on the Atlantic coast of North Africa.
On 29 January 1973, a prospective Turkish crew for Surprise assembled in Naples and the gunboat began preparations for decommissioning and turnover to the Turkish Navy
. The Turks trained in Surprise under the guidance of her American crewmen until 16 February 1973. She then departed Naples for Turkey, arriving at İzmir
on 19 February 1973. On 28 February 1973, Surprise was decommissioned
and turned over to the Turkish Navy on loan.
She was commissioned into the Turkish Navy as Turkish Republic Ship (TCG) Bora (P339), on 9 March 1973. Purchased outright from the United States in June 1987, Bora served in the Turkish Navy until deleted in 2000.
Asheville class gunboat
The Asheville class gunboats were a class of small military ships built for the United States Navy in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis. The class is named for a city in western North Carolina and the seat of Buncombe County...
patrol gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
that served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
from 1969 to 1973.
Technical description
Patrol gunboat USS Surprise (PG-97) was laid down at Sturgeon Bay, WisconsinSturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Sturgeon Bay is a city in and the county seat of Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 9,437 at the 2000 census. It is located at the natural end of Sturgeon Bay, although the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal was built across the remainder of the Door Peninsula.-Geography:Sturgeon Bay is...
, on 24 May 1968 by the Peterson Builders Shipyard, launched on 7 December 1968 sponsored by Miss Marsha L. Peterson.
Surprise was a fast gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
powered by geared Diesel engines for cruising, with a gas turbine
Gas turbine
A gas turbine, also called a combustion turbine, is a type of internal combustion engine. It has an upstream rotating compressor coupled to a downstream turbine, and a combustion chamber in-between....
which could be cut in for high speeds. She was armed with a director-controlled 3-inch (76.2-mm) 50-caliber automatic dual-purpose gun forward and a 40-millimeter Bofors
Bofors
The name Bofors has been associated with the iron industry for more than 350 years.Located in Karlskoga, Sweden, the company originates from the hammer mill "Boofors" founded 1646. The modern corporate structure was created in 1873 with the foundation of Aktiebolaget Bofors-Gullspång...
gun aft. Pairs of .50-caliber (12.7-mm) machine guns were mounted on the upper deck amidships, one each to port and starboard.
Operational history
After a pre-commissioning voyage through the Great LakesGreat Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
and the St. Lawrence Seaway, USS Surprise was commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
at Boston Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, on 17 October 1969, Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
William T. Shiffer, Jr., in command.
Surprise completed fitting out in Boston on 12 November 1969, when she got underway for Little Creek, Virginia. Along the way, she stopped at New York City, and loaded ammunition at Crane, New Jersey. She reached Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base on 18 November 1969 and, through the first week of 1970, she operated from that base, conducting training. During that period she also made a visit to Washington, D.C., where she demonstrated her capabilities to military and civilian officials.
On 12 January 1970, Surprise departed Little Creek for her new home port, San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. At Mayport, Florida, she and her traveling companion, patrol gunboat , were joined by a third patrol gunboat, . The three ships made their way to Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
via Port Everglades, Florida, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. Surprise transited the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
on 22 January 1970 and, on 24 January 1970, continued her voyage. The formation was joined by amphibious transport dock on 28 January 1970 and steamed into San Diego on 7 February 1970.
Surprise conducted shakedown
Sea trial
A sea trial is the testing phase of a watercraft . It is also referred to as a "shakedown cruise" by many naval personnel. It is usually the last phase of construction and takes place on open water, and can last from a few hours to many days.Sea trials are conducted to measure a vessel’s...
training out of San Diego until early April 1970. Then she engaged in normal operations until 13 May 1970, when she entered Long Beach Naval Shipyard
Long Beach Naval Shipyard
thumb|right|300px|Long Beach Naval Shipyard in 1993The Long Beach Naval Shipyard, which closed in 1997, was located at Terminal Island between the city of Long Beach and the San Pedro district of Los Angeles and approximately 23 miles south of the Los Angeles International Airport.The Long Beach...
at Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, California, for six weeks of post-shakedown shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
availability. Surprise completed the yard period on 9 July 1970 and returned to San Diego. She resumed training exercises until the end of August 1970, when she reentered Long Beach Naval Shipyard.
On 20 September 1970, her home port was switched back to Little Creek, Virginia, and on 8 October 1970 she departed San Diego to return to the U.S. East Coast. She re-transited the Panama Canal on 21 October 1970 and made Little Creek on 31 October 1970. On 16 November 1970, she departed Little Creek to rendezvous with Amphibious Group 2 for a voyage to the Mediterranean. She arrived at Rota, Spain
Rota, Spain
-External references:*, official website * On-line since 1999! News, premiere information, pictures, weather, etc. Into Spanish, English... ****- External links :...
, on 1 December 1970 and shifted operational control to the United States Sixth Fleet.
Surprise served with the Sixth Fleet until February 1973. During that period, she participated in a number of exercises both with units of foreign navies and with other elements of the Sixth Fleet. Throughout her tour, she visited numerous ports on the Mediterranean littoral, including Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Souda Bay
Souda Bay
Souda Bay is a bay and natural harbour on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. The bay is about 15 km long and only two to four km wide, and a deep natural harbour. It is formed between the Akrotiri peninsula and Cape Drapano, and runs west to east...
, Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
, Cartageña
Cartagena, Spain
Cartagena is a Spanish city and a major naval station located in the Region of Murcia, by the Mediterranean coast, south-eastern Spain. As of January 2011, it has a population of 218,210 inhabitants being the Region’s second largest municipality and the country’s 6th non-Province capital...
, and Venice. On two occasions, she ventured out of the Mediterranean. From 18 October 1971 to 22 October 1971, she visited Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, and, from 11 March 1972 to 15 March 1972, she put into Casablanca on the Atlantic coast of North Africa.
On 29 January 1973, a prospective Turkish crew for Surprise assembled in Naples and the gunboat began preparations for decommissioning and turnover to the Turkish Navy
Turkish Navy
The Turkish Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces.- Ottoman fleet after Mudros :Following the demise of the Ottoman Empire in the aftermath of World War I, on November 3, 1918, the fleet commander of the Ottoman Navy, Liva Amiral Arif Pasha, ordered all flags to be...
. The Turks trained in Surprise under the guidance of her American crewmen until 16 February 1973. She then departed Naples for Turkey, arriving at İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
on 19 February 1973. On 28 February 1973, Surprise was decommissioned
Ship decommissioning
To decommission a ship is to terminate her career in service in the armed forces of her nation. A somber occasion, it has little of the elaborate ceremony of ship commissioning, but carries significant tradition....
and turned over to the Turkish Navy on loan.
She was commissioned into the Turkish Navy as Turkish Republic Ship (TCG) Bora (P339), on 9 March 1973. Purchased outright from the United States in June 1987, Bora served in the Turkish Navy until deleted in 2000.