Illustration 1: PC-1264
Submarine chasers are a smaller type of naval craft, that are quicker and less expensive to build. Their smaller crews allow many more of this type of craft to be operated by the same number of officers and men than larger vessels like destroyers and escort destroyers. Designed to engage enemy submarines, the submarine chaser was well suited for both coastal patrol and convoy escort duty.
Laid down on 7 October 1943, PC-1264 was launched on 28 November 1943 and commissioned 25 April 1944. At the time of her commissioning, PC-1264 was crewed mostly by African-Americans, only the officers and the eight petty officers on board were white. The intent was to keep the white petty officers on board until the African-American sailors could gain the expertise and knowledge to be promoted to those positions. This plan was realized in November 1944, making PC-1264 the first ship in the U.S. Navy to be crewed entirely by African-Americans.
Illustration 3: Crew of PC-1264 Salutes Flag at Commissioning Ceremony
The PC-1264 earned a good reputation throughout her service. The ship was welcomed in many Northern ports as something of a curiosity. At the same time, the crew received unwelcome attention in some Southern ports. While in Miami at the Submarine Chaser Training Center, the African-American crew was subjected to extended inspections of their IDs and passes by the civilian guards at the gate. There was even an incident in local bar where civilians were overheard planning to go to the docks to shoot up the PC-1264. These plans were overheard by the white crew of another submarine chaser at the Submarine Chaser Training Center, which intervened by drawing arms and manning the gate for a time. After that, the civilian guards at the gate no longer lingered their inspections when the crew of the PC-1264 needed to pass.
Illustration 4: Crew of PC-1264, including Ensign Gravely seated at left
The PC-1264 also managed to become the first fighting ship in the U.S. Navy to have an African-American officer serve on board. Ensign Samuel Lee Gravely came aboard on 2 May 1945. Ensign Gravely would continue his career to become the first African-American to command a Navy ship, the first to command a fleet, and the first flag officer, retiring from the Navy with the rank of vice admiral. While serving on board PC-1264, Ensign Gravely was involved in an incident with a member of the Shore Patrol who incorrectly assumed that he was impersonating an officer. As Ensign Gravely accompanied the Shore Patrol to clear up the matter, several African-American sailors came to his aid, but Ensign Gravely tried to defuse the situation and calm the sailors, ultimately, when Ensign Gravely's commanding officer, Lieutenant Purdon arrived at the offices of the Shore Patrol, he found the commander of the Shore Patrol issuing an apology to Ensign Gravely.
Illustration 5: Decommissioning Ceremony of PC-1264
The PC-1264 served in the capacity of convoy escort, at one point being the lead escort vessel, as well as independent anti-submarine patrol until the end of the war in the Atlantic. She was sent to be refitted for anti-submarine duties in the Pacific and was undergoing that refit when Japan surrendered. At the time of her decommissioning, she was in such good shape that she became the showcase vessel for all submarine chasers being shown to civilian purchasers. Ensign Gravely was executive officer at the time of the ship's decommissioning on 7 Feburary 1946 and he would be in charge of her until she was out of service. USS PC-1264 ultimately ended up being sold for scrap but was never scrapped, ending up in the Donjon Marine Yard where she was still afloat c. 1990.
Illustration 6: PC-1264 c.1990
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