From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. 1, p 126


Bisbee

Bisbee is a city in Arizona.


(PF-46: dp. 1430 ; 1. 303'11" ; b. 37'6" ; dr. 13'8" ; s. 19 k.:cpl. 180 ; a. 3 3" ; cl. Tacoma)

Bisbee (PF-46) was launched 7 September 1943 by Consolidated Steel Co., Ltd., Los Angeles, Calif, sponsored by Mrs. Richard Murphy ; and commissioned 15 February 1944, Commander J. P. German, USCG, in command.

Assigned to the Pacific Fleet, the Coast Guard manned Bisbee joined the 7th Fleet at Noumea, New Caledonia, 27 June 1944. She took part in the landings on Biak Island (12-31 August) and then patrolled off the New Guinea coast until October 1944. During the invasion of Leyte she served as a patrol and harbor control vessel until detached for escort duty 22 November. Bisbee returned to Pearl Harbor 15 December.

After undergoing repairs Bisbee departed Pearl Harbor 6 January 1945 for Dutch Harbor, Alaska, arriving on the 13th. From January to July she escorted merchant vessels and Army transports between Dutch Harbor, Adak, Amchitka, and Attu and acted as guardship for Fleet Air Wing 4 in the North Pacific Ocean,

On 6 July 1945 Bisbee, with Escort Division 43, departed Adak for Seattle, Wash., arriving 12 July. After undergoing repairs and conversion, the ship returned to Alaskan waters, arriving at Cold Bay, Alaska, 13 August. On 26 August 1945 Bisbee was placed out of commission at Cold Bay and loaned to the U. S. S. R. the next day.

Returned by the Russians 1 November 1949, she lay at Yokosuka Navy Yard, Japan, until recommissioned 18 October 1950. Bisbee got underway for Korea 23 November 1950 and served on patrol, escort, and bombardment duty until 20 October 1951, with occasional voyages to the Philippines, Hong Kong, and the Pescadores. After repairs at Yokosuka, she was transferred to Colombia 13 February 1952 under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program.

Bisbee received two battle stars for her World War II service and three for Korea.