USS Brattleboro EPCER 852

• Unique Classification: The USS Brattleboro (EPCER-852) was an Experimental Patrol Craft Escort (Rescue), a rare classification in the US Navy, originally built as a PCE (Patrol Craft Escort) and later converted for experimental and medical roles. • Namesake: The ship was named after Brattleboro, Vermont, following the US Navy tradition of naming patrol craft after US cities and towns. • Construction and Launch: Built by Albina Engine & Machine Works in Portland, Oregon, she was launched on 17 June 1944 and commissioned on 4 October 1944. • World War II Service: During World War II, the ship served as a rescue and escort vessel in the Pacific, providing medical aid and support during amphibious operations. • Postwar Conversion: After WWII, she was converted into an experimental vessel (EPCER) and assigned to the Naval Research Laboratory, supporting research in sonar, anti-submarine warfare, and various medical experiments. • Medical Innovations: The USS Brattleboro played a key role in developing and testing shipboard medical evacuation and treatment procedures, contributing to advances in naval medicine. • Participation in Nuclear Tests: The ship took part in Operation Crossroads (1946), the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, assisting in monitoring radiation and medical effects. • Cold War Role: During the Cold War, the vessel supported anti-submarine warfare research, helping the US Navy maintain technological superiority over Soviet submarines. • Long Service Life: The USS Brattleboro served for over two decades, not decommissioned until 31 March 1968, marking a notably long service for a ship of her class. • Final Fate: After decommissioning, she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register and eventually sold for scrap, but her contributions to naval research and medicine are still noted in US Navy history.