US Tacoma class. Based on the RN and RCN River class, these ships were built in commercial yards on the Great lakes and the West Coast. Never popular with the USN 'brass hats', because not built to warship specs, they were Coast Guard crewed, and served well in the latter period of WWII, mostly in the Pacific. Certainly, they were weaker than contemporary DE's, but also had double the endurance, had good seakeeping, and provided a large number of hulls at short notice. Probably the best testiment to these ships was that many of them ended up in foreign navies. The Alberuquerque was no exception. After serving in the USN, she was lend leased to the USSR, returned in 1949, then recommiosned in USN service for Korea, then sold to the JMSDF, where she served until the 1960's. One minor point, no scuttles, as the USN used forced draft ventillation, so they were hot in warmer climes.