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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- The Korean War, 1950-1953 --

Loss of Frigate Prasae, 7 January 1951

On 7 January 1951, while patrolling off the Korean east coast, the Royal Thai Navy frigate Prasae went aground in a snowstorm. Stranded behind enemy lines, she had to be destroyed when salvage efforts could not break her loose. In October 1951, the U.S. Navy frigate Gallup (PF-47) was transferred to Thailand as a replacement. She was also named Prasae in Thai service.

This page features pictures of and related to the stranding and loss of the Thai frigate Prasae on the Korean coast, 7 January 1951.

For visual coverage of other aspects of the November 1950 - January 1951 Chinese offensive in Korea, see:

  • The Chinese Offensive, 25 November 1950 -- 25 January 1951.

    For a precis of our Korean War images, and links to more comprehensive pictorial coverage of that conflict, see:

  • The Korean War, June 1950 - July 1953 -- Introductory Overview and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: 80-G-432568

    Thai frigate Prasae


    Stranded behind enemy lines on the Korean east coast, January 1951. She had gone ashore in a snowstorm on 7 January and had to be destroyed after unsuccessful efforts to pull her off.
    A helicopter and several U.S. Navy ships, including USS Endicott (DMS-35), are offshore covering salvage operations.
    Prasae was formerly the British corvette Betony and the Indiana Navy's Sind.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-432570

    Thai frigate Prasae


    Aground behind enemy lines on the Korean east coast, January 1951. Several U.N. personnel are standing on the beach near a boat, surveying the situation. An LCVP is also stranded just inshore of the frigate.
    Note ice on the shore and on the seaward side of the ship.
    Prasae had gone ashore in a snowstorm on 7 January 1951. She was destroyed after salvage efforts proved futile.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 97164

    Stranding of Thai Frigate Prasae
    , January 1951

    "Thorin, D.W., APC, prepares to take off in his helicopter with another load of survivors from the Thailand corvette, the HMTS Prasae, which ran aground during a blinding snow storm off the coast of Korea. Other members of the helicopters stand guard as the rescue was affected behind enemy lines." (Quoted from original caption)
    Photo is dated 16 January 1951, but was taken several days earlier. Prasae went aground on the North Korean coast on 7 January 1951 and was destroyed after attempts to pull her off were unsuccessful.
    Helicopter is a Sikorski HO3S-1 of squadron HU-1. Men guarding the rescue operation are armed with M-3 submachine guns.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     


    For visual coverage of other aspects of the November 1950 - January 1951 Chinese offensive in Korea, see:

  • The Chinese Offensive, 25 November 1950 -- 25 January 1951.

    For a precis of our Korean War images, and links to more comprehensive pictorial coverage of that conflict, see:

  • The Korean War, June 1950 - July 1953 -- Introductory Overview and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    3 August 2000