USS Burlington (PF-51) USCG to USSR to USN Korean War Gunboat PROJECT HULA

[Salvage Sailor]

USS BURLINGTON (PF-51) Tacoma Class Patrol Frigate

 

(MC Type T. S2-S2-AQ1) The first Burlington was originally authorized as Patrol Gunboat, PG-159 Reclassified as a Patrol Frigate, PF-51, 15 April 1943

Laid down under a Maritime Commission contract by the Consolidated Steel Corp, Ltd., Wilmington, CA., Launched 7 December 1943

 

 

Commissioned USS Burlington (PF-51), 3 April 1944 - WWII service with USCG Crew at Espirito Santo, New Guinea, Philippine Islands, Leyte, Aleutian Islands

 

 

Decommissioned 26 August 1945 at Cold Harbor, Alaska & Transferred under the Lend-Lease Program to the Soviet Union 27 August 1945 (Project Hula)

 

 

Reclassified EK-21 Assigned to the Soviet Pacific Fleet 5 September 1945

Returned to U.S. custody 14 November 1949 at Yokosuka, Japan and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Yokosuka

 

Recommissioned 5 January 1951 at Yokosuka as USS BURLINGTON (PF-51) For immediate service in Korea - Wonsan Harbor, Songjin, Chongin, Task Force 92 and Task Force 77, bombarding shore targets, serving as harbor entrance control vessel, and performing patrol and escort duties. Placed out of commission in reserve at Yokosuka, 15 September 1952

 

The U.S. Navy awarded Burlington two battle stars for her World War II service and five battle stars for her Korean War service.

 

Transferred to Columbia and renamed ARC Almirante Brion (F 14), 26 June 1953

 

Photos from navsource

[Salvage Sailor]

USS BURLINGTON (PF-51) Tacoma Class Patrol Frigate Korea, 1951

 

 

Reverting to her original name, Burlington remained inactive in the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Yokosuka until after the Korean War broke out on 25 June 1950. She was then overhauled and recommissioned on 5 January 1951 at Yokosuka. After shakedown and training exercises in the Yokosuka area, Burlington deployed to the waters off Korea. From 14 March 1951 to 24 April 1951, she operated in Wonsan Harbor and off Songjin, bombarding shore targets, serving as harbor entrance control vessel, and performing patrol and escort duties. On March 28th, USS Burlington (PF 51) was taken under enemy fire from He-do Pan-do. Shots straddled but evasive maneuvers prevented probable hits. Ship countered with 123 rounds, with resulting numerous fires about the terrain.

 

After a brief repair period in Sasebo Navy Yard, Sasebo, Japan, Burlington returned to the combat zone and from 11 May 1951 to 8 June 1951 carried out shore bombardment and patrol duties from Wonsan to Chongjin. On May 29th, USS Stickell (DD 888) and USS Burlington (PF 51) landed raiding party vicinity Songjin. Destroyed three steel-decked junks with hand grenades, killed two guards. No friendly casualties reported.

 

During the summer of 1951, she served with Task Force 92 and Task Force 77, performing escort duty in the underway replenishment area off the east coast of Korea.

 

Burlington entered Yokosuka Navy Yard for overhaul late in September 1951 and returned to escort duty in Korean waters on 5 December 1951. Until early July 1952, she continued combat operations, periodically returning to Sasebo for repairs and training.

 

Burlington departed Sasebo on 3 July 1952 bound for the Philippine Islands, where she participated in exercises off the west coast of Luzon and cruised as far south as Davao on Mindanao. She departed Manila Bay on 3 September 1952 to return to Yokosuka, where she was decommissioned on 15 September 1952. Her name was stricken from the Navy List on 28 May 1953.

 

USS BURLINGTON (PF-51) Korea 1951 patch from my collection, made in Japan

 

 

Interesting history and photos here http://Naval History and Heritage Command

 

Korean War Crewmans' Account from Bob Parker, USN 1948-1953

 

All of those Frigates (PF-XX) were used by the Russians during WWII.Then parked in Tokyo Bay to rust away. When the Korean War started they ordered them refurbished and recommissioned for duty.

 

I went on board the Burlington PF-51 in the summer of 50. I believed we recommissioned it in the late summer or fall of 1950. I believe we were part of ComDesRon8, a part of the 7th Fleet. But that was a long time ago. We then went to Wonson Harbor and reported to SOPA.

 

We spent our time going up and down the coast shelling trains and RR tracks. We also went to the mouth of the Yalu River with a destroyer one night to shell the Chinese. The lights of Vladavostok USSR were only about twelve miles away and very visible.

 

We didn't have much fire power, 3" deck mounted guns were our heaviest, and not gyro controlled. We couldn't hit a bull in the butt with a shovel if the water was rough.

 

The one thing I do remember was we had about 189 men aboard and I was the only regular Navy. All the others were Reserves. I was the senior yeoman aboard (YN2).

 

[Salvage Sailor]

PROJECT HULA - Secret Soviet-American Cooperation in the War Against Japan

 

On Line detailed history of the program to transfer US Navy ships to the Soviet Navy in 1945 for their attack on the Japanese in the Northern Pacific islands

 

Link: Project Hula