Details


Poorly stored old original black and white photograph of the 1942 USS Surprise (PG-63) Temptress-class patrol gunboat.

HMS Heliotrope was built by John Crown and Sons Ltd, Sunderland, England.

Some history below:

Heliotrope was transferred to the U.S. Navy at Hull, England, on 24 March 1942, one of a group of corvettes transferred to the U.S. Navy under reverse Lend-Lease.
She was commissioned as USS Surprise the same day, Lieutenant R. C. D. Hunt, Jr., in command. She was delivered with British radars and armament installed, and over the course of her U.S. Navy service was gradually converted to U.S. standards.
The 4-inch (102 mm) gun was mounted forward, the 3-inch (76 mm) gun aft.

This is out of a military and war veteran's estate. The staining on the back is only to the back cardboard and doesn't appear to go through to photo.
But photo does show some wear and tear....please enlarge photos. Should be re-framed and matted. It's a beautiful remembrance piece for gift or yourself.

Visual surface is approx. 9.75 by 8"

Please see photos and email with any questions prior to purchase. Thanks for looking.