- Auk class minesweeper
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USS Chief (AM-315)Class overview Name: Auk Operators: United States Navy
Royal Navy(under Lend-Lease)
Hellenic Navy
Philippine Navy
Turkish Navy
Mexican Navy
Republic of China NavyPreceded by: Raven class minesweeper Succeeded by: USS Eagle (AM-132) General characteristics Type: Minesweeper Displacement: 890 tons
1,100 tons (full load)Length: 221 ft 2 in (67.41 m) Beam: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m) Draught: 11 inches Propulsion: Diesel electric drive, twin screws, 3,500 hp (2,600 kW) Speed: 9-12 knots (standard)
18 knots (maximum)Complement: Approximately 100 crew Armament: 1x3in (76mm)/50 caliber gun (1x1)
2 x 40 mm Bofors
8 x 20 mm Oerlikons
2 depth charge tracksThe Auk class were Allied minesweepers serving with the United States Navy and the British Royal Navy during the Second World War. In total, there were 95 Auks built.
Contents
Design and development
The Auk class displaced 890 tons on average, and had an approximate length of 220-225 feet. They could reach a maximum speed of about 18.1 knots (33.5 km/h). Auks were equipped with a single 3 inch gun, two 40 mm Bofors guns, and eight 20 mm Oerlikon guns.
Thirty-two minesweepers were ordered by the US (as BAM-1 to -32), intending them to be supplied to the Royal Navy under Lend-lease; 12 were retained for USN use and given names and the "AM" hull classification prefix. [1] Those transferred to the RN were named as the Catherine class receiving "J" pennant number prefixes.
Eleven minesweepers of the Auk class were lost in World War II, six to direct enemy action including USS Skill, torpedoed by edit] List of Auk class minesweepers
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Ship Name Hull Number Date Struck From Naval Vessel Register Fate USS Ardent AM-340 1 July 1972 Transferred to the Mexican Navy on 19 September 1972 USS Auk AM-57 1 August 1956 Unknown USS Broadbill AM-58 1 July 1972, Sold for scrap on 1 December 1973 USS Champion AM-314 Unknown Donated to the Mexican Navy on 19 September 1972. Still in active service. USS Chickadee AM-59 Unknown Transferred to the National Navy of Uruguay on 18 August 1966 USS Chief AM-315 1 July 1972 Transferred to the Mexican Navy in February 1973. USS Competent AM-316 1972 Transferred to the Mexican Navy in September 1972. USS Defense AM-317 Approx. 1972 Transferred to the Mexican Navy on 3 January 1973. USS Devastator AM-318 Unknown Transferred to the Mexican Navy in 1973. USS Dextrous AM-341 Unknown. Transferred to Republic of Korea Navy in December 1967 after service in the Korean War. USS Gladiator AM-319 1 July 1972 Donated to the Mexican Navy in 1973. USS Heed AM-100 1 March 1967 Unknown USS Herald AM-101 1 July 1972 Donated to the Mexican Navy on 1 February 1973. USS Impeccable AM-320 1 July 1972 Sold for scrap on 1 April 1974 USS Minivet AM-371 21 January 1946 Sunk in action in the Tsushima Strait on 29 December 1945 USS Motive AM-102 1 December 1966 Sunk as a target in April 1968 USS Murrelet AM-372 1 December 1964 Transferred under FMS to the Philippine Navy in June 1965 USS Nuthatch AM-60 1 December 1966 Sunk as a target. USS Oracle AM-103 1 December 1966 Sunk as a target in the Winter of 1967 USS Peregrine AM-373 1 February 1969 Unknown USS Pheasant AM-61 1 December 1966 Sunk as a target. USS Pigeon AM-374 1 December 1966 Sold for scrap. USS Pilot AM-104 1 July 1972 Transferred to the Mexican Navy on 19 July 1972. USS Pioneer AM-105 1 July 1972 Transferred to the Mexican Navy on 19 September 1972. USS Pochard AM-375 1 December 1966 Sold for scrap. USS Portent AM-106 Unknown Sunk in action off of Anzio, Italy on 22 January 1944 USS Prevail AM-107 10 January 1964 Sold for scrap on 13 October 1964. USS Ptarmigan AM-376 1 July 1963 Transferred to Republic of Korea Navy on 25 July 1963. USS Pursuit AM-108 1 July 1960 Unknown USS Quail (AM-377) AM-377 1 December 1966 Sold for scrap. USS Redstart AM-378 1 April 1965 Transferred to the Republic of China Navy on 25 July 1963. USS Requisite AM-109 1 April 1964 Sold for scrap on March 1965. USS Revenge AM-110 1 November 1966 Sold for scrap on May 1967. USS Roselle AM-379 1 July 1972 Donated to the Mexican Navy on 1 February 1973. USS Ruddy AM-380 Unknown Transferred to the Peruvian Navy on 1 November 1960 USS Sage AM-111 1 July 1972 Donated to the Mexican Navy on 4 February 1973. USS Scoter AM-381 1 December 1966 Transferred to the Mexican Navy on 19 September 1972 USS Seer AM-112 1 March 1963 Sold to the Royal Norwegian Navy on 15 December 1962 USS Sentinel AM-113 19 August 1943 Sunk in action off of Licata, Italy on 10 July 1943 USS Sheldrake AM-62 30 June 1968 Sold for scrap on 2 November 1971 USS Shoveler AM-382 17 May 1974 Transferred to the Peruvian Navy on 1 May 1974 USS Skill AM-115 11 October 1943 Sunk in action off of North Africa on 25 September 1943 USS Skylark AM-63 28 April 1945 Sunk in action off of Yomitan, Okinawa on 28 April 1945 USS Spear AM-322 1 July 1972 Transferred to the Mexican Navy on 19 September 1972. USS Speed AM-116 Unknown Transferred to Republic of Korea Navy on 17 November 1967. USS Sprig AM-384 1 July 1972 Sold for scrap on 20 December 1973 USS Staff AM-114 1 March 1967 Sold for scrap on 17 November 1967 USS Starling AM-64 1 July 1972 Transferred to the Mexican Navy on 16 February 1973. USS Steady AM-118 1 February 1968 Sold to the Republic of China Navy on 15 August 1967. USS Strive AM-117 1 October 1959 Transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy on 1 October 1959 USS Surfbird AM-383 21 February 1975 Sold to a private company on 5 December 1975 USS Sustain AM-119 1 October 1959 Transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy on 1 October 1959 USS Swallow AM-65 2 June 1945 Sunk in action off of the Ulithi atoll on 22 April 1945 USS Sway AM-120 1 July 1972 Donated to the Mexican Navy on 16 February 1973. USS Swerve AM-121 22 August 1944 Sunk in action off of Anzio, Italy on 9 June 1944 USS Swift AM-122 1 July 1972 Scrapped USS Symbol AM-123 1 July 1972 Transferred to the Mexican Navy on 19 September 1972. USS Tanager AM-385 1 November 1963 Transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard on 16 July 1964. USS Tercel AM-386 1 July 1972 Scrapped USS Threat AM-124 1 July 1972 Donated to the Mexican Navy in 1973. USS Tide AM-125 29 July 1944 Sunk in action off the coast of Normandy on 7 June 1944 USS Token AM-126 1 December 1966 Unknown USS Toucan AM-387 Unknown Transferred to the Republic of China Navy on 22 December 1964. USS Towhee AM-388 1 May 1969 Sold for scrap on 6 March 1969 USS Triumph AM-323 1 March 1961 Transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy on 27 January 1961 USS Tumult AM-127 1 May 1967 Sold for scrap USS Usage AM-130 Unknown Sold to the Turkish Navy. USS Velocity AM-128 1 July 1972 Donated to the Mexican Navy on the same day it was struck. USS Vigilance AM-324 1 December 1966 Transferred under FMS to the Philippine Navy August 1967 USS Vital AM-129 23 April 1947 Sold to foreign purchaser. Served as a merchant marine vessel until sold for scrap in July 1956. USS Waxwing AM-389 Unknown Transferred to the Republic of China Navy on 14 October 1965 USS Wheatear AM-390 1 July 1972 Sold for scrap on 20 December 1973 USS Zeal AM-131 1 December 1966 Sunk as a target on 9 January 1967 See also
Media related to Auk class minesweeper at Wikimedia Commons
Notes
References
Auk-class minesweeperUnited States Navy Republic of Korea Navy Mexican Navy
Royal Norwegian Navy
Peruvian NavyPhilippine Navy
Rizal classTurkish Navy Uruguayan Navy
List of mine warfare vessels of the United States Navy · List of minesweepers of the Royal NavyUnited States naval ship classes of World War IIAircraft carriers Light aircraft carriers Escort carriers Battleships Large cruisers Heavy cruisers Light cruisers Destroyers Destroyer escorts Patrol frigates Minesweepers Submarines - S — Single ship of class
- C — Completed after the war
- X — Cancelled
Categories:- Auk class minesweepers
- Mine warfare classes
- World War II minesweepers of the United Kingdom
- World War II minesweepers of the United States
- Naval ships of the Philippines
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