The USS Tulsa (PG-22), also known as the "Galloping Ghost of the South China Coast," was an Asheville-class gunboat commissioned by the United States Navy from 1923 to 1946. Built at the Charleston Navy Yard, she was laid down on December 9, 1919, launched on August 25, 1922, and officially commissioned on December 3, 1923. The vessel measured approximately 164 feet in length, with a beam of around 25 feet, and was powered by gasoline engines, providing her with a notable speed suitable for patrol duties. Initially assigned to the Caribbean to join the Special Service Squadron, Tulsa spent the first five years of her service in Central American waters, conducting "showing the flag" patrols and port visits in locations such as Tuxpan, Vera Cruz, Guantanamo Bay, Puerto Rico, and the Panama Canal Zone. During this period, she supported American interests amid regional unrest, including protecting lives and property during the Nicaraguan civil strife from 1926 to 1928. In 1929, Tulsa was designated as the flagship of the South China Patrol, operating out of Hong Kong and Guangzhou, and later served as a station ship at Tientsin, China. She observed significant events such as the Chinese civil war and the Sino-Japanese tensions. With the outbreak of World War II, Tulsa was based in the Philippines, where she participated in the defense of Cavite after the Japanese attack on December 10, 1941. She evacuated along with other ships to Borneo and Java, where she engaged in convoy escort missions and anti-submarine activities, notably equipped with a homemade depth charge rack. Throughout the war, Tulsa operated extensively in the Southwest Pacific, supporting PT boats during the Buna-Gona campaign, defending against air attacks, and serving as flagship of the 7th Fleet. She towed PT-109, commanded by future President John F. Kennedy, and participated in key operations in New Guinea and the Philippines. Renamed Tacloban in December 1944, she continued convoy and patrol duties until the end of hostilities, after which she was decommissioned in 1946 and disposed of later that year. The USS Tulsa was a versatile and active vessel, contributing significantly to U.S. naval operations in Asia and the Pacific during her nearly two-decade service.

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