USS PGM-3 was a PGM-1 class motor gunboat that served in the United States Navy during World War II. She was originally laid down as an SC-497 class submarine chaser on 7 September 1942 by the Peterson Boat Works in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin and launched on 12 April 1943. She was commissioned as USS SC-1035 on 17 May 1943. She was later converted to a PGM-1 class motor gunboat and renamed PGM-3 on 10 December 1943. After the war she was transferred to the Foreign Liquidations Commission on 20 May 1947. She was turned over to the Chinese Navy at the mouth of the Yangtze River in the summer of 1947.
| Location | Map link | Location | Map link | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 29.989°N -90.071°W | Miami | 25.794°N -80.225°W | |
| Nassau | 25.064°N -77.346°W | Key West | 24.558°N -81.782°W | |
| Guantanamo Bay | 20.005°N -75.13°W | Balboa | 8.949°N -79.566°W | |
| Corinto | 12.498°N -87.175°W | Manzanillo | 19.056°N -104.286°W | |
| San Diego | 32.705°N -117.204°W | San Francisco | 37.81°N -122.388°W | |
| Seattle | 47.607°N -122.365°W | Neah Bay | 48.371°N -124.618°W | |
| San Pedro | 33.728°N -118.263°W |
23 January 1944, USS PGM-3 departed San Pedro, California, headed for Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, in company of PGMs 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, and . These small ships traversed the Pacific Ocean under their own power, en route to their duty station in the Solomon Islands. Along the way, five of the PGMs dropped out of the lead convoy for various reasons. PGM-3 was the last ship to drop out. For further details of PGM-3s voyage before reaching Espiritu Santo, see .
| Location | Map link | |
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| Lunga Point | -9.399°N 160.031°W | |
| Purvis Bay | -9.149°N 160.253°W |
During the month of June, PGM-3 completed four 2-day patrols of the southeast coast of Bougainville Island and Bougainville Strait, working variously with PGM's 1, 5, 6, 8, USS LCI 61, and a PBY seaplane. These were anti-barge patrols at night and mine patrols during the day. The ship fired upon many coastal locations and destroyed two drifting mines by gunfire.
On 27 June, PGM-3 departed MTB Base 9 in the company of PGM-1, en route to Carter City, Florida Island. After arrival the ship was moored next to PGM-2. The ship underwent repairs and alterations at Carter City, including the installation of sound gear and a 3-inch/50 gun. 26 July, PGM-3 was moored next to PGM-6. PGM-3 returned to MTB Base 9 at the Treasury Islands on 27 July.
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| Homestead Lagoon | -1.676°N 149.909°W, | |
| Hamburg Bay | -1.65°N 149.944°W | |
| Green Islands | -4.506°N 154.227°W |
While at the Green Islands, the PGMs received emergency orders to intercept the hospital ship, which had been damaged by a mine. The hospital ship was acting as formation guide for a convoy that included the following ships:, OTC; ; ; SS Poleau Laut. PGMs 3, 5 and 6 departed the Green Islands at 1437 hours on 24 September, setting a course of 258 degrees true at 1450 hours and then 109 degrees true at 1516 hours, following the latter course until reaching the hospital ship at 1122 hours the next day. The hospital ship was proceeding on a course of 127 degrees true at the time. The PGMs served on scouting lines for the convoy until 1700 hours on 26 September, when they were detached from the mission. The PGMs then proceeded to Tulagi, Florida Islands, reaching their destination the next day. PGM-3 departed Govanna Inlet, Florida Island on 29 September in company of PGM's 5 and 6 and arrived at MTB Base 9, Treasury Islands the next day.
The day following its arrival back at base, PGM-3 headed out again for another patrol of area "uncle" on southwest coast of New Ireland in the company of PGM's 6 and 8. The PGMs arrived on station off Huru Point at 1930 hours on 2 October. A PBY was dropping flares along the coast to illuminate possible targets. In the area of Matakan Plantation, the PBY dropped a bomb close to a hut on the beach and PGM-3 shelled the vicinity of the hut with their 60 mm mortar. At 0106 hours, a PBY illuminated a loaded barge 1500 yards off Huru Point. The PGMs and PT boats arrived on scene 30 minutes later and made runs against the barge. The PTs scored several hits and in the following runs, the PGMs scored hits with their 3-inch/50 and 40 mm guns. The barge was destroyed during the 20-minute attack. After completing their patrol the following night, the PMGs set out on the morning of 5 October for MTB Base 7, Green Islands. After a layover, the PGMs returned to patrol on 9 October. Near the end of the day on 11 October, the PGMs were working with the PBY seaplane, call sign "Tarbaby". At 0500 hours on 12 October, the PGMs finished their patrol off Tambaker Point, arriving back at MTB Base 9 the following day at 0652 hours.
During the latter two weeks of October, PGM-3 was assigned escort duty, making two round trips to Finschhafen, New Guinea, returning alone each time to MTB Base 9. The first round trip spanned the dates 14 October to 19, escorting the merchant ship SS Marmacsea. SS Wilfred Grenfell was escorted on the second round trip, 24 October to 29.
In November and December PGM-3 conducted four patrols of the southwest and southeast coasts of Bougainville Island, Bougainville Strait and the northwest coast of Choiseul Island. One trip was in the company of 2 PT boats (call signs "Gum King" and "Gum 131"), one apparently alone, one in company with PGM-8 and one in company with PGM-2. In addition, the ship made two quick round trips to Cape Torokina, escorting to the cape on the second trip on 10 December.
PGM-3 departed the base at Treasury Islands for its last patrol along the west coast of New Ireland at 2159 hours on 25 December in the company of PGM-2. The ships arrived at their patrol station the next day at 1932 hours, 2 miles off Huru Point. The PGMs were still patrolling in the second hour of 29 December, working with the Black PBY Catalina, call sign "Charcoal". Charcoal was strafing the beach of the Chinese Plantation and illuminating the area for the PGMs. PGM-3 fired upon the beach with gun number 6 (40 mm). Not long thereafter, the PGMs were abeam of Ulpatur Plantation where Charcoal dropped a flare and four bombs. Early in the morning, the PGMs departed their patrol and set a course to the naval base on Green Island, arriving there at 1520 hours. A layover there ended 1 January 1945, when the ships returned to the patrol area, arriving 5 miles off Huru Point at 2145 hours. At 0615 hours on 4 January, the PGMs departed their patrol at Huru Point, making their way back to base at the Treasury Islands. Near midnight, PGM's 3 and 2 passed PGM's 1 and 5, who were headed in the opposite direction, making their way from base to the same patrol area.
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| Kuku Point | -6.837°N 156.536°W, | |
| Sangigai | -6.962°N 156.691°W |
In February the PGM ships of Division One were wrapping up operations in the Solomon Islands and preparing for advancement to the Philippines. On 2 February the main engines of PGM-3 were hoisted out of the ship for replacement.
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| Challenger Bay | -2.54°N 140.708°W, | |
| San Pedro Harbor | 11.216°N 125.068°W |
The ships of PGM Division One, PGM’s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8, departed the Treasury Islands on 24 February, en route to Hollandia, New Guinea., the remaining ship of Division One, was severely damaged in a collision in July of the previous year and never returned to active service. The ships arrived at Hollandia on 28 February and anchored in Challenger Bay. On 3 March the ships departed the harbor and joined a convoy headed for the island of Leyte in the Philippines. PGM-3 took its position astern of . The PGMs served as radar and sound screens, rear guard, and rescue ships for the convoy. The convoy arrived at Leyte on 10 March and the PGMs anchored in San Pedro Harbor. On 13 March the log of PGM-3 indicates that at 1833 hours, the ship was moored next to PGM-4 at Motor Torpedo Boat Base 5 in the San Juanico Strait, Leyte. PGM-3 remained at MTB Base 5 until 7 April.
At 1625 hours on 7 April, PGM-3 was underway from MTB Base 5, following in the wake of PGM-1 through the San Juanico Strait en route to Ormoc Bay, Leyte, and moored at the Ormoc wharf at 0700 hours the next morning. The PGMs departed the following day at 0645 hours en route to Camiguin Island. The ships tied up at the dock at Mambajao, Camiguin, at 1430 hours and were underway again at 1745 hours, headed to their patrol area in Macajalar Bay, Mindanao. The PGMs commenced patrol of the area 1 mile off Salay at 1930 hours, and continued to blockade the Mindanao coast at Macajalar Bay into the morning hours, using radar to search for enemy traffic. At 0645 hours the PGM-3 commenced firing its 3-inch/50 and 40 mm guns at the mouth of Cagayan River. The ships departed the patrol at 0803 hours to return to Camiguin. After an hour-stay at Camiguin, the ships continued on to Iligan, Mindanao. The PGMs were underway from the wharf at Iligan at 1910 hours to return to their patrol area. At 0243 hours, one mile off Tagaloan River, the wake of a putative torpedo was observed to pass just ahead of PGM-3. Another wake passed under PGM-1. On 12 April at 0520 hours, the PGMs departed the patrol area, en route to Balingasag Bay. Guerilla Banca came alongside at 0704 hours to transfer four Japanese prisoners and captured enemy equipment. Afterward, the PGM-3 proceeded en route to Cebu City. At 1813 hours the four Japanese prisoners were transferred to the army stockade at Cebu City for the night. A half hour later the area came under enemy attack with shells exploding close to the PGM-3. All ships in the vicinity proceeded to get underway to avoid the shelling. Shells exploding in vicinity of the dock caused numerous personnel casualties. The PGM-3 sought safety by proceeding to the outer harbor at Cebu where it anchored for the night. On the morning of 13 April, the Japanese prisoners were brought aboard by military police and the ship departed for Ormoc. The ship moored in Ormoc Bay shortly before noon the same day and military police escorted the prisoners ashore. The PGMs departed Ormoc Bay the next day, 14 April, and arrived back at base at 1313 hours.
PGM-3 departed MTB Base 5 for its second patrol in the Philippines on 18 April in company with PGM-1. This patrol was similar to the first, with stops at Ormoc and Mambajao followed by patrols in the area of Macajalar Bay. After the last patrol the ships returned to base via Ormoc, arriving at MTB Base 5 on 25 April.
| Location | Map link | |
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| Casiguran Sound | 16.117°N 121.99°W, | |
| Dingalan Bay | 15.34°N 121.402°W | |
| Calabgan Bay | 16.214°N 122.074°W | |
| Iloilo River | 15.06°N 121.508°W | |
| Gabriel Point | 14.799°N 121.624°W | |
| Binangonan Point | 14.566°N 121.625°W | |
| Port Real | 14.658°N 121.611°W |
| Location | Map link | |
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| Marcelino Point | 14.852°N 121.613°W, | |
| Dilalongan | 16.131°N 121.934°W, |
4 August at 1151 hours, PGM-3 was en route to rendezvous with PGM’s 1, 2, 4, and 6, for a mission to Morotai Island. After rendezvous, the PGMs departed at 1317 hours with PGM-4 serving at OTC. The PGMs arrived at Morotai on 6 August and anchored in the harbor at the southern tip of the island. Four days later the PGMs departed Morotai, proceeding to MTB Base 17 on Samar Island, arriving there on 12 August. The following day PGM-3 returned to MTB Base 5 where it remained until 5 September.
5 September at 0740 hours, the ships of PGM Division One departed their base in the Philippine Islands en route to Buckner Bay, Okinawa. At 1415 hours on 9 September, PGM-3 passed through the anti-torpedo nets at Buckner Bay and at 1507 hours anchored in berth 150. Over the next week the ship shifted between many moorings in the bay and on 16 September at 1240 hours was moored starboard side to SC-760 at the Minesweep Dock, Section Base, Katchin Hanto, Buckner Bay. In the next entry of the ship’s log for the day, under the heading 1600 to 2000 hours, it is noted that the barometer was falling rapidly and a typhoon was approaching. Then under the heading 2000 to 2400 hours: "barometer falling rapidly, typhoon mounting with violence". The next day the ship remained moored next to SC-760 and nothing more about the typhoon is mentioned in the log.
PGM-3 remained at Buckner Bay until 25 September, when it departed for Hagushi, Okinawa, arriving there the same day. The following day PGM-3 took on fuel and water in preparation for a trip to Shanghai, China. On 28 September at 1256 hours the PGM-3 departed Hagushi in company of LCI Group 65 bound for Shanghai, China, in accordance with orders from Commander LCI Flotilla Fifteen. Two days later PGM-3 anchored in 22 fathoms of water at the entrance to the Yangtze River. An hour and a half later the ship proceeded to a quarantine anchorage in the river. The next day the ship moved to an anchorage midstream on the Yangtze off Blockhouse Island and was also moored at times to SS Claus Spreckles and . On 3 October, PGM-3 made its way to Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Pootung Wharf, Huangpu River, Shanghai, where it moored port side to PGM-5. The PGM-3 remained in Shanghai until 5 November, moving between various moorings, going into dry dock on 25 October, and leaving dry dock on 2 November. During this period the ship’s log documents the presence in Shanghai of PGM’s 2, 4, 5 and 6.On 5 November the PGM-3 departed the Nippon Yusen Kaisha wharf at Shanghai and made its way to the Yangtze River, where it moored to USS Robinson briefly, then proceeded to an anchorage 3 miles west of Chung Poasha. At this location the ship observed Japanese mine sweeping operations and returned at the end of the day to moor overnight at the USS Robinson. PGM-3 was stationed on the Yangtze River the next day, two miles west of Middle Island, where it continued to monitor Japanese mine sweeping operations, returning at the end of the day to moor at the USS Robinson off Blockhouse Island. On 7 November, PGM-3 was underway at 0630 hours following minesweepers on various courses, stationed 1000 yards astern, returning to USS Robinson at the end of the day. The ship was engaged in the same activity the next day and was relieved at 0815 hours on 9 November. PGM-3 returned to Shanghai on 10 November and returned to mine sweep operations on the Yangtze the following day, serving duty as safety ship, and moored overnight at USS Robinson. On 12 November the ship concluded its duties as safety vessel and arrived back at Shanghai at 1642 hours, mooring next to PGM-1 at the Old NingPo wharf. PGM-3 remained at Shanghai until 27 November, when it departed to return to the Philippines.
On 27 November at 0642 hours, PGM-3 departed Shanghai in company with PGM’s 1, 4, 5, and 6, en route to Subic Bay, Philippine Islands. At 1418 hours the PGMs were anchored off the Yangtze entrance buoy, awaiting the arrival of . The next day the PGMs departed in company of USS Willett, bound for Subic Bay. At 1250 hours on 29 November, the PGM-3, in accordance with AlPac 297, dropped all exposed ammunition in 1,466 fathoms of water. The convoy entered Subic Bay at 1440 hours on 2 December. The next day PGM-3 anchored at the Alva Docks, Naval Base, Olongapo, Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippine Islands. PGM-3 remained at this location until it was decommissioned on 12 January 1946.
All but 5 crew members of PGM-3 were billeted ashore at the Repair Base, Navy 3002, on 19 December. On 12 January 1946, USS PGM-3 was decommissioned.