From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

Engage

To go into action with; to involve.

(AM - 93: dp. 295; l. 173'8"; b. 23'; dr. 7'7"; s. 16 k.; cpl. 65; a. 1 3"; cl. Adroit)

Engage (AM-93) was launched 11 July 1942 by Dravo Corp., Pittsburgh, Pa.; sponsored by Mrs. E. O'Brien; and commissioned 22 October 1942, Lieutenant R. E. Fitzpatrick, USNR, in command. She was reclassified PC-1597 on 1 June 1944, and her name canceled.

The first Engage arrived at Charleston, S.C., 12 December 1942 from her shakedown off Florida, and cruised again to Florida ports the next month on coastal escort duty. She arrived at Norfolk, Va., 4 February 1943 for operations in Chesapeake Bay until 10 March when she sailed on escort duty to Bermuda. Here she served on escort and patrol duty, as well as training with submarines, occasionally leaving the area to escort ships to Norfolk.

On 4 July 1944, PC-1597 sailed in convoy from Norfolk for Bizerte, Tunisia, arriving 23 July. She moved on to Naples, Italy, and Ajaccio, Corsica, from which she cleared 13 August for the invasion of southern France. During the initial assault, she acted as reference vessel for the waves of landing craft bringing the troops ashore, then patrolled off the transport area. Through the next month, she supported the buildup in southern France by escorting convoys to the beachheads, and patrolling along the Riviera. At the close of September, she began general escort duty in the western Mediterranean until 27 May 1945 when she sailed for Jacksonville, Fla. There she was decommissioned 19 November 1945 and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal 8 November 1946.

PC-1597 received one battle star for World War II service.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.fr)