- USS Inaugural (AM-242)
The fleet minesweeper USS "Inaugural" (AM-242) was launched on
October 1 1944 , at theWinslow Marine Railway and Shipbuilding Corporation of Winslow,Washington , and was commissioned on30 December 1944 , withLieutenant J. H. Pace in command.The fleet minesweeper was one of many support ships designed to service and protect larger naval vessels operating in the Pacific Theater during
World War II . Typically, the minesweeper detected and removed mines before the rest of the fleet arrived, thereby ensuring safe passage for the larger ships. Their job was essential to the safety and success of U.S. naval operations in the Pacific during World War II. The "Inaugural" was of the "Admirable"-class, the largest and one of the most successful classes of U.S. minesweepers ordered during World War II. These minesweepers were also employed as patrol and escort vessels.Operations
Following shakedown off the
California coast, "Inaugural" sailed on14 March 1945 forPearl Harbor , where she arrived eight days later. For the next two months, the minesweeper performed patrol and escort duties betweenHawaii and the islands of the western Pacific. She was atSaipan on22 May and departed that day with aconvoy bound forOkinawa , site of the last and largest amphibious operation of the tough Pacific war. After a voyage enlivened by several attacks on suspectedsubmarine s, the convoy reached Okinawa on30 May 1945 .During the desperate struggle for Okinawa, "Inaugural" patrolled the seas around the island group, often firing at enemy planes as
Japan ese aircraft made a suicidal effort to stop American ground forces by destroying their support from the sea. Except for the period 19 through24 July , when the ship put to sea to ride out the greattyphoon , "Inaugural" remained in the dangerous waters around Okinawa until30 August 1945 .With the war then over, she steamed to the waters around
Japan andKorea for vital minesweeping operations that were a necessary prelude to occupation. She swept the approaches toJinsen, Korea , in September, and later cleared mines in waters off Nagasaki andSasebo, Japan . "Inaugural" proceeded to Okinawa where she received needed equipment 14 -24 October , and then returned to the important minesweeping operations around the Japanese home islands.The veteran minesweeper sailed on
24 December for theUnited States , via Saipan and Pearl Harbor, and arrived at San Pedro,California , on7 February 1946 . Sailing again on11 March , she proceeded to Galveston,Texas , and decommissioned there on9 September 1946 . "Inaugural" entered theAtlantic Reserve Fleet , Texas Group, where she remained until struck from the Navy List on1 March 1967 and sold. She was reclassified MSF-242 on7 February 1955 ."Inaugural" had performed its duties with distinction. By the end of its career, the vessel had cleared eighty-two mines and was awarded two
battle star s for service during World War II.Museum ship
In 1968, "Inaugural" was relocated to St. Louis to serve as a floating museum. The vessel was designated as a
National Historic Landmark onJanuary 14 ,1986 , as one of two surviving "Admirable"-class minesweepers used in the Pacific during World War II.In August 1993, during flooding of the
Mississippi River , "Inaugural" broke loose from its moorings at theGateway Arch . The ship suffered a breach in its hull, took on water, and rolled on its side. It remained in that position and partially submerged for some time. Plans to salvage the wreck in one piece and restore it were not feasible. The ship was determined a total loss, and was salvaged for scrap metal and museum exhibition purposes. Despite the announcement that the ship was to be scrapped, it is still sitting on the Missouri side of the river.The Landmark designation of "Inaugural" was withdrawn on
August 7 ,2001 because it had ceased to meet the criteria for designation.References
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