USS SC-696

USS SC-696

The SC-696 two days before her commissioning.
History
United States
Name	SC-696
Ordered	16 February 1942
Builder	Daytona Beach Boat Works Inc.
Laid down	26 March 1942
Launched	6 August 1942
Commissioned	25 November 1942
In service	1942
Out of service	1943
Fate	Sunk by German Aircraft, 23 August 1943
General characteristics
Displacement	148 tons
Length	110 feet, 10 inches
Beam	17 feet
Draft	6 feet, 6 inches
Propulsion	2 x General Motors 8-268A diesel engines or 2 x General Motors 16-184A diesel "pancake" engines, two screws.
Speed	15.6 knots
Range	1,500 nautical miles at 12 knots
Complement	3 Officers, 24 Enlisted
Armament	One 40mm mount two .50 Caliber Machine Guns two "Y" Gun Depth Charges
Aircraft carried	None
Aviation facilities	None

USS SC-696 was an SC-497-Class Submarine chaser of the United States Navy during World War II.[1] She was sunk on 23 August 1943 by German dive bombers.

Ship History

She was ordered on 16 February 1942, laid down at Daytona Beach, Florida on 26 March 1942 by Daytona Beach Boat Works Inc. and launched on 6 August 1942.[2] On 25 November 1942 she was commissioned as USS PC-696. In April, she was re-designated as USS SC-696. On 23 August 1943, off Palermo, Italy, SC-696 and USS SC-694[3] came under attack by Junkers Ju 88 dive bombers. Both were sunk. 18 men were killed aboard the 696.[4]

Decorations

SC-696 received one battle star for her service.

• European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
• American Campaign Medal

References

1. "SC-694". www.navsource.org.
2. "USS SC-696 (SC-696) of the US Navy - American Submarine chaser of the SC-497 class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net.
3. "Navy Department Communiques 301 to 600". NHHC.
4. "WRECKSITE - SC-696 SUBMARINE CHASER 1942-1943". wrecksite.eu.