USS Ampere (ADG-11)

The USS "Ampere" (ADG-11) was a degaussing vessel of the United States Navy, named after the ampere, a unit of electric current (which takes its name from the French physicist André-Marie Ampère). Originally planned as a patrol craft escort (PCE-919), she was instead designated the USS "Drake" (AM-359), an "Admirable"-class minesweeper. "Drake" was laid down on 24 November 1943 at Portland, Oregon by the Willamette Iron & Steel Corporation and launched on 12 August 1944. On 20 April 1945, her name was canceled, and she was re-designated a degaussing vessel, YDG-11. The ship was placed in service on 15 August 1945, the day after the Japanese surrender. Due to the cessation of hostilities, "YDG-11" saw little or no active service before being berthed with the Pacific Reserve Fleet at San Diego, California. She was retained on an inactive, in service, status until the winter of 1946 and 1947 when she was placed out of service, in reserve. On 1 November 1947 she was re-designated ADG-11. The ship remained inactive until July, 1951 when she was again placed in service. Assigned to the Far East, "ADG-11" was based at Yokosuka, Japan until sometime in 1954. After that, her home port was Sasebo, Japan. On 1 February 1955 she was named "Ampere". The ship was placed out of service in February 1957. She remained in reserve in the Far East until the summer of 1961 when the decision was made to dispose of her. Her name was struck from the Naval Register on 1 July 1961 and she was sold on 21 June 1962 to the Philippine President Lines of Manila. Her final disposition is unknown, but it has been reported it was sold to the Russians at the end of the war according to an obituariy of Lt. Charels Richard BURDGE who passed awey May 27, 2008 in Palm Desert, CA.

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