The USS Gloucester (PF-22) was a Tacoma-class frigate constructed during World War II, launched on 12 July 1943 by the Walter Butler Shipbuilding Company in Superior, Wisconsin, under a Maritime Commission contract. She was sponsored by Mrs. Emily K. Ross and was acquired and commissioned by the U.S. Navy on 10 December 1943. The ship measured approximately 303 feet in length with a beam of 37 feet and a draft of around 12 feet, typical of Tacoma-class frigates designed for convoy escort and patrol duties. Initially, Gloucester was used for training frigate crews at Galveston, Texas, before being assigned to Escort Division 38 in June 1944. Her service was primarily in the North Pacific, where she was slated for transfer to the Soviet Navy under Project Hula in 1945, a secret program for transferring U.S. ships to Soviet control as the Allies prepared for the final stages of World War II. She was transferred to the Soviets at Cold Bay, Alaska, on 4 September 1945, and was renamed EK-26, serving as an escort ship in the Soviet Far East. Following the end of World War II, diplomatic negotiations led to her return to the U.S. Navy, which was completed on 31 October 1949 at Yokosuka, Japan. After her return, Gloucester lay in reserve until recommissioned in October 1950 for the Korean War. During her service in Korea, she operated in patrol and anti-submarine roles, conducting shore bombardments and convoy escort missions. Notably, on 18 June 1951, she participated in shelling gun emplacements at Wonsan, and on 11 November 1951, she sustained a direct hit during a duel with shore batteries, resulting in the death of Storekeeper Third Class Louis Jaramillo and injuries to 11 others. In 1953, Gloucester was loaned to Japan, serving as JDS Tsuge (PF-12), later redesignated PF-292. She continued service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force until her decommissioning on 31 March 1968. The vessel was struck from the U.S. Navy list in December 1961 and transferred outright to Japan in 1962. Her final disposition remains unknown after her decommissioning in 1969.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.