USS Skimmer (AMCU-41)

USS "Skimmer" (AMCU-41/LCIL-1093) was an sclass|LCI(L)-351|landing craft infantry built for the U.S. Navy for the task of landing troops in combat areas.

The second ship to be named "Skimmer" by the Navy was laid down as "LCI(L)-1093", a large, infantry landing craft, on 11 September 1944 by the Defoe Shipbuilding Co. of Bay City, Michigan; launched on 23 September 1944; and commissioned on 28 September 1944.

World War II service

"LCI(L)-1093" made her way through Lake Michigan and the Chicago Drainage Canal, down the Illinois River and the Mississippi river, and arrived at New Orleans, Louisiana, on 11 October 1944. She drydocked at New Orleans, then commenced her shakedown cruise to Galveston, Texas. After completing shakedown and amphibious training, she departed Galveston on 25 November 1944.

Transfer to the Pacific Theatre

She transited the Panama Canal on 1 December and arrived in San Diego, California, on the 18th. In mid-February 1945, following further exercises and training at San Diego, "LCI(L)-1093" got underway for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, en route to Guam in the Marianas. She entered Pearl Harbor on 11 March and departed soon thereafter, visiting Eniwetok Atoll along the way to the Marianas. She made Guam on 8 April and stayed there until the 24th.

Saipan and Okinawa operations

From there she sailed to Saipan and, after about a month of miscellaneous duties there, headed for Okinawa. She spent the next month, 30 May to 30 June, providing smoke screens, carrying troops and supplies, and helping other landing craft retract from the beaches.

End-of-war operations

The conquest of Okinawa was fairly well complete by the end of June, but the "LCI(L)" continued to operate in that vicinity until 12 September. At that time, she was sent to Japan where she performed a number of duties, including ferrying allied prisoners-of-war to Guam and supporting the occupation forces in the Tokyo area. "LCI (L)-1093" departed Japan on 14 April 1946. Sailing via Guam and Pearl Harbor, she arrived at San Diego on 10 June. By mid-July, she had retransmitted the Panama Canal and had arrived in Boston, Massachusetts. She then decommissioned at Boston and was towed to the berthing area at Hingham, Massachusetts.

Reactivation in 1947

She returned to Boston, Massachusetts, on 20 April 1947 and, for almost three years, served the 1st Naval District as a U.S. Naval Reserve training ship. In January 1950, she was taken to Charleston, South Carolina, to be inactivated. This time, she was berthed at Green Cove Springs, Florida.

Reactivation in 1953 as AMCU-41

In August 1953, she returned to Charleston to be converted to a coastal minesweeper "AMCU-41". On 23 January 1954, the ship was commissioned as "Skimmer" ("AMCU-41"), Lt. W. M. Gattis commanding. She was assigned to the 1st Naval District in late February 1954 and, on 6 March, departed Charleston for Boston.

She headed via the Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, the East River, Long Island Sound, and the Cape Cod Canal and arrived in Boston on 14 March. She operated in the 1st Naval District for the next year participating in LANTSUBMINEX-54 and LANTFLTEX-55 and representing the 1st Naval District at the Rhode Island State American Legion Convention from 18 to 20 June 1954.

Final deactivation and decommissioning

On 1 March 1955, she commenced Phase Able inactivation at Boston and was redesignated "MHC-41". By 20 April, she was back at Charleston, South Carolina, beginning Phase Baker inactivation. Finally, on 1 July 1955, "Skimmer" decommissioned at Charleston and was berthed there as a unit of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. In 1958, she was moved to the berthing area at Green Cove Springs, Florida; and, on 1 January 1960, her name was struck from the Navy list.

Military awards and honors

"Skimmer" ("LCI(L)-1093") received one battle star for World War II service.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/15/151093.htm NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - LCI(L)-1093 - Skimmer (AMCU / MHC 41)]