USS Skylark (AM-63)

USS "Skylark" (AM-63) was an "Auk"-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.

"Skylark", a minesweeper, was laid down on 9 July 1941 by the General Engineering & Dry Dock Co. at Alameda, California; launched on 12 March 1942; sponsored by Mrs. William L. Simpson; and commissioned on 25 November 1942.

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

After almost a month of trials, calibrations, and training along the coast of California, "Skylark" got underway for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of 20 December. The convoy arrived in Pearl Harbor 10 days later, and "Skylark" remained in the Islands for another 11 days. On 10 January 1943, she stood out of Pearl Harbor and set course for Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides, escorting another convoy. For the next year, "Skylark" escorted convoys around the various island groups in the South Pacific, the New Hebrides, Samoa, New Caledonia, and the Solomons, the conquest of which she was supporting. Often she shepherded supply echelons to Guadalcanal and to some of the other islands in the group, then would patrol the area for a week or two.

Under attack by Japanese aircraft

Of all the months of that year, June 1943 was her most active. On the 16th, while she was screening ships off Guadalcanal, she came under aerial attack by Japanese dive bombers and assisted in splashing four of the intruders. A week later, on 23 June, two ships of her convoy, "Aludra" (AK-720 and "Deimos" (AK-78) were torpedoed by a Japanese submarine, "RO-103". "Skylark" succeeded in rescuing 193 survivors and carried them on to Espiritu Santo. In January 1944, the minesweeper began an extended period of convoy-escort and patrol duty in the Solomons. Until 15 April, her theater of operations was restricted to those islands alone as she herded the supply echelons between them. On 15 April, she departed the Solomons for Espiritu Santo, arriving there the next day. On 7 May, she began her return voyage to the Solomons; and, two days later, she put into Purvis Bay, Florida Island, for repairs. Repairs and minesweeping exercises occupied her time until 3 June, when she sailed from Purvis Bay with elements of Task Force 53, bound for Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshalls. The various elements of the task force rendezvoused at Kwajalein on the 8th, refueled, and departed on the 12th. The Southern Attack Force, otherwise known as task force TF 53, was assigned the job of retaking Guam during the Marianas operation. Originally, the Guam assault was to have come several days after that upon Saipan. However, the necessity of meeting and defeating the Japanese fleet in what was to be the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the determination that additional troops would be needed to conquer Guam caused the assault to be delayed. Thus, TF 53 steamed around in the ocean 150 to 300 miles east of Saipan until 25 June when Admiral Spruance ordered the bulk of it to Eniwetok to await the lifting of additional forces from Hawaii. "Skylark" arrived in Eniwetok Lagoon three days later.

Guam area operations

She remained at Eniwetok until 17 July at which time the task force departed for Guam. Arriving off Apra Harbor on the 21st, Skylark took up her screening station and, for almost two months, screened ships and patrolled in the vicinity of Apra. On 9 September, Skylark ceased patrolling and screening and departed Guam in the escort of an Eniwetok-bound convoy. She arrived on the 14th and entered an availability period until 3 October. From Eniwetok, she moved to Ulithi, arriving on 9 October and departing again on the 17th to escort "Oahu" (ARG-5) back to Eniwetok. The two ships made Eniwetok on 23 October, and "Skylark" departed the next day. After a two-day layover at Majuro, 26 to 28 October, she headed for Pearl Harbor.

Stateside repairs

From Pearl Harbor, she continued on to California, where she underwent repairs at both the Stockton Ship Works at Stockton, California, and General Engineering & Dry Dock Co., at Alameda, California.

Return to Pacific Theatre operations

On 15 February 1945, Skylark pointed her bow westward again and sailed out of Alameda, California. She entered Pearl Harbor on 22 February, provisioned on the 23d, and headed back to Eniwetok on the 24th. A month later, Skylark was with the other minesweepers clearing the invasion areas around Okinawa.

Struck by a mine

At 1055 on 28 April, while sweeping a minefield off the Hagushi beaches, she struck a mine on her port side amidships. "Skylark" drifted while the crew fought fires and tried to save her. Twenty minutes later, she struck a second mine, took a heavy list, and sank within 15 minutes. Five men were killed by the two explosions and, thanks to the rescue work of "Tolman" (DM-28), these were her only losses.

"Skylark" was struck from the Navy list on 28 April 1945.

Awards

Skylark (AM-63) earned three battle stars for World War II service.

References

*DANFS

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* minesweeper

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.ibiblio.net/hyperwar/USN/ships/AM/AM-63_Skylark.html Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 - AM-63 USS Skylark]
* [http://www.uboat.net/forums/read.php?22,67048,67048,quote=1 uboat.net - Discussion Forums :: Warship forum :: info about USS ...]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq82-1.htm Casualties: U.S. Navy and Coast Guard Vessels, Sunk or Damaged Beyond Repair during World War II, 7 December 1941-1 October 1945]
* [http://www.america-at-war.net/wwii1945.html America at War]
* [http://www.dvrbs.com/Monuments/pineHill/PineHillWW2-HowardCMacKnight.htm Howard C MacKnight]
* [http://www.multied.com/navy/Minelayer/skylarkI.html Skylark I AM-63]
* [http://warships.web4u.cz/lode.php?language=E&stat=USA&typ=MNL&trida=Auk USA - Minesweepers - class AUK - Warships of World War II]