USS Asheville - Definition and Overview

Four ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Asheville, for the town in North Carolina.

• The first Asheville (PG-21) was a gunboat that served in the Caribbean and off the China coast, and was sunk by Japanese forces early in World War II.

• The second Asheville (PF-1), a River-class patrol frigate, served on the East Coast doing escort duties during World War II.

• The third Asheville (PGM-84), the lead ship of her class of high-speed gunboat, served in the Vietnam War.

• The fourth Asheville (SSN-758), a Los Angeles-class submarine, is still in commission in early 2004.