Navy USS Chehalis (PG-94)

• Class and Type: USS Chehalis (PG-94) was originally built as a patrol gunboat of the Asheville-class and later reclassified as a patrol frigate (PF-94). • Namesake: The ship was named after Chehalis, a river in Washington State, and by extension, the Chehalis Native American tribe. • Laid Down and Launch: The keel was laid down on 21 November 1942 at the American Shipbuilding Company in Lorain, Ohio, and the ship was launched on 5 June 1943. • Commissioning: Chehalis was commissioned on 9 December 1943, entering service during World War II. • Transfer to UK: Before she could see action as a US Navy vessel, Chehalis was transferred to the Royal Navy under the Lend-Lease agreement and commissioned as HMS Somaliland (K594). • Service in WWII: As HMS Somaliland, the ship served primarily as a convoy escort in the Atlantic, safeguarding Allied shipping from German U-boat attacks. • Return to US: After the end of World War II, Somaliland (ex-Chehalis) was returned to the United States in 1946. • Decommission and Fate: The ship was decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1947, marking a short but eventful service life. • Sister Ships: USS Chehalis was one of many Tacoma-class patrol frigates (originally designated as Asheville-class gunboats) built for transfer to the UK, reflecting the close cooperation between the US and UK during WWII. • Legacy: Although her time as USS Chehalis was brief, her role as HMS Somaliland contributed to maintaining vital supply lines across the Atlantic, a key factor in the Allied victory during the war.