Name USS Popham Renamed Somaliland, 1943 Length 93 m | Laid down 11 October 1943 Namesake British Somaliland | |
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Namesake British name assigned in anticipation of ship's transfer to United Kingdom Reclassified Patrol frigate, PF-90, 15 April 1943 Builders Walsh-Kaiser Company, Providence | ||
HMS Somaliland (K594) was a Colony-class frigate of the United Kingdom that served during World War II. She originally was ordered by the United States Navy as the Tacoma-class patrol frigate USS Popham (PF-90) and was transferred to the Royal Navy prior to completion.
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Construction and acquisition
The ship, originally designated a "patrol gunboat," PG-198, was ordered by the United States Maritime Commission under a U.S. Navy contract as USS Popham. She was reclassified as a "patrol frigate," PF-90, on 15 April 1943 and laid down by the Walsh-Kaiser Company at Providence, Rhode Island, on 11 October 1943. Intended for transfer to the United Kingdom, the ship was renamed Somaliland by the British prior to launching and was launched on 11 November 1943.
Service history
Transferred to the United Kingdom under Lend-Lease on, according to different sources, either 22 February 1944 or 24 June 1944, the ship served in the Royal Navy as HMS Somaliland (K594) on patrol and escort duty.
Disposal
The United Kingdom returned Somaliland to the U.S. Navy on 22 May 1946. She was scrapped in 1947.