BRAZILIAN NAVY NORTHEAST NAVAL FORCE * - 16 SUBMARINE CHASERS
8)SUB CHASER GURUPI G2
Photo. https://www.marinha.mil.br/dphdm/sites/www.marinha.mil.br.dphdm/files/Gurupi%20I.pdf
Built 1942
Incorporated 24/Sep/42
Decommissioned 18 Sep 1959.
Tonnage 295 t / 450 t full loaded.
Length: 52.73 m
Beam: 7.01 m
Draught 3.04 m.
Propulsion: Diesel; 2 Engines 16 Cylinders; General Motors Model 16-258S with 2.000 bhp, 2 shafts with 3 blade propellers.
Speed: Max. 20 knots.
Range: 3.000 Nautical miles @12 knots.
Armament: 1 3 pol. (76.2 mm/50) Oerlikon gun; 1 Bofors L/60 gun, 40 mm in one single mounting Mk 3; 2 machineguns Oerlikon 20 mm single mountings Mk 4; 2 grenade octuples throwers of A/S (LBG) 7.2 pol. Mousetrap Mk 20 at the bow ; 2 Depth Charges rack Mk 3 and 2 side throwers type K Mk 6 for Depth Charges Mk 6 or Mk 9.
Sensors: 1 surveillance surface radar type SF or SL; 1 hull sonar.
Complement: 65
Sub Chaser Gurupi - G 2, ex-USS PC 547, was built at Defoe Boat and Motor Works, em Bay City, MI. She was launched 22/May/42. She was transferred and incorporated to the Brazilian Navy 24/Sep/42 in a ceremony held at Natal. Her first commander was Lieutenant Captain Mauro Ballousier
The acquisition cost of one unit of that class was US$ 1,7 million. On 5/Oct she went on subordination of Northeast Naval Force, created that same day, and commanded by Captain Alfredo Carlos Soares Dutra, and subordinated to the Commander Fourth Fleet and south Atlantic Naval Forces, Rear Adm (USN) Jonas H. Ingram. Northeast Naval Force, FNN, was originally composed by Cruisers Rio Grande do Sul, – C 11 and Bahia - C 12, Minelayers Carioca, Caravelas, Camaquã and Cabedelo and by Sub Chaser Guapore- G 1.
This force was later added by other vessels received under Lend Lease agreements, including four Italian made submarines, Tender Belmonte, and Destroyer Escorts, thus forming the Task Force 46 South Atlantic Naval Force and was only dissolved at the end of the war.
Gurupi began her operational life with Guapore - G 1, as a training ship for the future crewmembers of that same type of vessel which were to be delivered by the USA. She played an active role during the war when escorted 64 convoys from Brazilian ports to Trinidad.
SC Gurupi also rescued 22 survivors from Dutch merchant Veerhaven sunk 11 Nov 42 by Italian submarine Leonardo da Vinci on pos. 03º 40”S 30º 00”W.
