Notes: This ship was a US Army Design 381 Freight & Supply (FS) Watercraft built for the US Army Transportation Corps. The USCG had operated the ship during WWII, turning the ship back over to the US Army on 23 August 1945. In late 1948, the US Army declared it surplus and in 1949 authorized it for disposal. The French national hydrography service, Travaux Publics Francais, acquired it for use in the Indochina colony. When the French evacuated Saigon, it was left behind and incorporated into the new South Vietnamese navy.

The South Vietnamese navy used the ship as a buoy tender and later as a general training ship. When North Vietnam overran Saigon in 1975, it appears the vessel was still in service; it was at least on the final naval register of South Vietnam. It’s final fate is unclear. It is not mentioned further although the unified Vietnamese navy may have kept it in service for some time.

There is some confusion over the name. It was definitely named Hoa Giang in South Vietnamese service. Most sources state that this was the ship’s final name, however some South Vietnamese navy veterans living today in the United States claim the vessel was renamed Qua Giang IV shortly before South Vietnam collapsed.

Displacement: 560t standard, 950t full Dimensions: 177’x32’7”x10’ Machinery: Diesel-reduction: 2 General Motors diesels, 2 shafts Max speed: 13kts (later downrated to 10kts) Range: 6000NM @ 10kts Complement: 55 (3 officers, 52 enlisted)

x2 Mk4 20mm                      1NM AA/surface