- USS Bobolink (AM-20)
USS "Bobolink" (AM-20/AT-131/ATO-131) was an "Lapwing"-class minesweeper acquired by the
U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing."Bobolink" was launched on
15 June 1918 byBaltimore Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company, inBaltimore, Maryland ; sponsored by Miss Elsie Jean Willis; and commissioned28 January 1919 , withLieutenant Frank Bruce in command.World War I minefield clearance
"Bobolink" departed
Norfolk, Virginia in April1919 to join Division 2,North Sea Minesweeping Detachment, atKirkwall ,Orkney Islands . While sweeping in theNorth Sea on14 May 1919 , a mine exploded close by, causing considerable damage to the stern and killing Lieutenant Bruce. Her repairs at the Devonport Dockyard,England , took six months and she returned to Norfolk in January1920 .Post-War operations
Between
1920 and1931 , "Bobolink" served with the Fleet Base Force, Scouting Fleet, on theU.S. East Coast and participated in fleet problems, concentrations, and joint Army-Navy maneuvers. On3 March 1932 , she arrived on theU.S. West Coast and was thereafter based atSan Diego, California . She operated along the western seaboard betweenSan Francisco, California andSan Quentin Bay ,Mexico , with the Fleet Train and variousdestroyer divisions. In1935 , she took part in the annual exercises and fleet problems held offHawaii . Between January and March1939 , she participated in fleet problems in theCaribbean and then returned to San Diego, arriving there on13 May 1939 .World War II operations
In September
1940 , "Bobolink" joined the Train, Base Force, United States Fleet, atPearl Harbor . She remained there until September1942 . "Bobolink" was present during the Japaneseattack on Pearl Harbor on7 December 1941 . Following the attack, she served as a salvage vessel and minesweeper. Between20 May and2 July 1942 , she was converted to an ocean-going tug (redesignated AT-131 on1 June 1942). Remaining at Pearl Harbor until September1942 , "Bobolink" then steamed to the South Pacific and operated out offGuadalcanal ,Solomon Islands ;Espiritu Santo ,New Hebrides ; andNoumea ,New Caledonia , as a tug until February1944 . In particular, she helped rescue survivors and assisted several crippled U.S.warships in the aftermath of theNaval Battle of Guadalcanal . She arrived atLong Beach, California ,4 March 1944 for overhaul and returned to Pearl Harbor on29 June 1944 . "Bobolink" was reclassified ATO-131 on15 May 1944 .Decommissioning
She served in Hawaiian waters until the fall of
1945 , and then returned toMare Island Navy Yard where she was decommissioned22 February 1946 . She was sold through theMaritime Commission 5 October 1946 ."Bobolink" received one
battle star for operations duringWorld War II .References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b7/bobolink-i.htm
External links
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/02020.htm navsource.org: USS "Bobolink"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/mine/ hazegray.org: USS "Bobolink"]
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