USS SOMERSWORTH

• Namesake: USS Somersworth (PCE(R)-849) was named after Somersworth, New Hampshire, honoring the town’s contributions during World War II. • Ship Class: Somersworth was a PCE(R)-848-class Patrol Craft Escort (Rescue)—a type of vessel designed to provide anti-submarine warfare and rescue services. • Launch and Commission: The ship was launched on 17 September 1943 by the Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company in Chicago, Illinois, and commissioned on 15 March 1944. • World War II Service: USS Somersworth served in the Pacific Theater, providing medical assistance and rescue operations for wounded sailors and downed aviators during amphibious invasions. • Medical Facilities: As a rescue escort ship, Somersworth was equipped with a full hospital and surgical suite, including operating rooms and x-ray facilities—a unique feature for a ship of its size. • Post-War Role: After WWII, Somersworth served as a training vessel for Naval Reserve units and later as a Naval Reserve training ship on the Great Lakes. • Renaming: In 1956, PCE(R)-849 was officially named USS Somersworth, becoming one of the few ships in the Navy to be named for a town in New Hampshire. • Cuban Missile Crisis: During the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, Somersworth was activated for potential service, highlighting her continued importance in Cold War readiness. • Decommissioning: USS Somersworth was decommissioned in 1968 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register soon after, marking the end of her service. • Legacy: The city of Somersworth, New Hampshire, maintains a proud connection to the ship, commemorating her service and the crew’s contributions through reunions and memorials.