USS Velocity (AM-128)

USS "Velocity" (AM-128) 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.

"Velocity", an oceangoing minesweeper, was the second warship to bear the name "Velocity."

"Velocity" was laid down on 21 July 1941 at Chickasaw, Alabama, by the Gulf Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 15 April 1942; sponsored by Mrs. K. B. Hover, the wife of the shipbuilder's destroyer hull foreman; and commissioned on 4 April 1943, Lt. Comdr. Joseph L. Bull, Jr., USNR, in command.

Initial operations

After fitting out and conducting sea trials, "Velocity" took on further supplies, underwent yard work at New Orleans, Louisiana, conducted minesweeping training out of Burwood, Louisiana, and practiced antisubmarine tactics out of Key West, Florida. Departing the Florida Keys on 3 May, the minecraft arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, on the 6th and escorted a coastal convoy to Charleston, South Carolina, before undergoing further yard work at the Norfolk, Virginia, Navy Yard. Departing Norfolk, Virginia, on 6 June, "Velocity" arrived at Key West, Florida, three days later, en route to the Panama Canal Zone. She then escorted eight LST's across the Gulf of Mexico to Balboa, before she transited the canal on 18 June. She departed the Panama Canal Zone on the 24th, but her onward routing was cancelled; and she put back into port soon thereafter. She conducted local operations out of Balboa into July, after which time she transported a cargo of diesel fuel oil to Baltra Island, in the Galapagos group, to alleviate a critical fuel shortage there. When she returned to Balboa, she conducted further local operations, including towing targets for the planes from a carrier task group training in the vicinity—carriers including "Princeton" (CVL-23), "Lexington" (CV-16), and "Belleau Wood" (CVL-24). "Velocity" subsequently escorted floating drydocks "ABD-1" and "ABD-2" and their tows, "SS Sombrero Key" and "SS Stratford Point", to the New Hebrides Islands, arriving at Espiritu Santo on 24 September. The minesweeper soon shifted to Noumea, New Caledonia. She operated put of this port on convoy escort and local patrol duties into mid-1944, escorting ships to the New Hebrides, the Solomons, the Ellice Islands, and the Bismarck Archipelago.

Pacific Operations with the Third Fleet

In mid-August, "Velocity" joined the U.S. 3rd Fleet. On 8 September, she departed Guadalcanal in company with Task Group (TG) 32.17, in the screen, escorting a convoy bound for the invasion of the western Carolines. Soon thereafter, "Velocity", in company with "Triumph" (AM-323) and "Competent" (AM-316), arrived off Kossol Roads early on 15 September. Together, the three ships swept 13 mines. The next day, "Wadleigh" (DD-659) struck a mine which very nearly broke the ship's back and sank her. However, prompt damage control saved the destroyer, and "Velocity" was among the ships which sent a fire and rescue party to lend assistance to the stricken "Wadleigh". Upon completion of the operation at Kossol Roads, "Velocity" shifted to Ulithi, arriving on the last day of September. Here, the minesweeper conducted sweeping operations in the harbor before serving as a convoy escort, screening ships to Humboldt Bay, New Guinea. Soon thereafter, she then shifted to Seeadler Harbor, at Manus in the Admiralties.

Leyte Gulf operations

"Velocity" departed Manus on 10 October with the remainder of her division, Mine Division (MinDiv) 14. Arriving off Leyte Gulf on the 17th, the minecraft and her sisters commenced sweeping the area in the path of the invasion slated to begin on the 20th. On the 19th, a Japanese "Val" dive bomber dropped a bomb near the ship and attempted to strafe her but was driven off by brisk antiaircraft fire. That evening, "Velocity" and MinDiv 14 swept ahead of the battleships of Rear Admiral Oldendorf—the same ships which a few nights hence would win the Battle of Surigao Strait. "Velocity" operated as mine-disposal vessel for the division and ended up with a tally of 24 mines sunk and 15 destroyed.

Velocity shoots down attacking aircraft

She conducted sweeping operations on the day of the landings, 20 October, at Leyte and continued this duty until the 23d, at which time she and her sister sweepers were ordered to join the antiaircraft screen for the transports. On the 26th, when a formation of twin-engined "Betty" bombers attacked the anchorage area, "Velocity" splashed one of the attackers. During the confused melee, an American Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter went down due to a fuel shortage. "Velocity" quickly sent her motor whaleboat to pick up the aviator, but a boat from "Token" (AM-126) arrived on the scene first. On the 27th, however, "Velocity" took her turn at bat and rescued a pilot from a crashed American plane.

Stateside overhaul

Following the Leyte operation, "Velocity" departed the Philippines on 28 October and proceeded via Manus to Portland, Oregon, where she arrived on 4 December. After a major availability at the Albina Engine and Machine Works Dock there, the minesweeper departed Portland on 3 March, bound for San Pedro, California. Subsequently shifting to San Francisco, California, "Velocity" departed the U.S. West Coast on 4 April and arrived at Pearl Harbor on the 14th.

Return to the Far East

Departing Hawaiian waters two days later, "Velocity" escorted "Sangay" (AE-10) to Guam, via Eniwetok, in the Marshalls. She then moved to Saipan, where she joined the U.S. 5th Fleet. Shifting to Kerama Retto, Okinawa, on 11 May, the minesweeper operated in the Ryūkyūs as minesweeper, antiaircraft vessel, and antisubmarine ship. When USS Halloran (DE-305)"Halloran" (DE-305) was hit by a Japanese kamikaze on the night of 21 June, "Velocity" went to her aid. On 4 July, "Velocity" departed Kerama Retto for minesweeping operations in the East China Sea. With her base of operations now at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, the ship proceeded to sweep 13 mines between 4 and 30 July and continued operations into the East China Sea into August and past the end of the war with Japan.

Post-World War II operations

In the operation concluded on 25 August, "Velocity" tallied a score of 35 mines located and destroyed. The minesweeper operated in Japanese waters into October 1945, between Honshū and Hokkaidō, to clear shipping lanes for the ships of the occupation forces. During this time, she was based at Ominato, Japan. After a brief period at Shanghai, China, at the end of December 1945, "Velocity" shifted to Japanese waters. Departing Sasebo, Japan, on 21 January 1946, "Velocity" arrived at San Francisco, California, on 1 March, via Saipan, Eniwetok, and Pearl Harbor.

Decommissioning

Decommissioned and placed in inactive status on 7 October 1946, the minesweeper remained in reserve through the 1960s. During this time, her classification was changed to fleet minesweeper, and she was designated MSF-128 on 7 February 1955. Struck from the Navy list on 1 July 1972, "Velocity" was simultaneously sold to the government of Mexico. She served as Ignacio L. Vallarta (G.14) into 1980.

Awards

"Velocity" received five battle stars for her World War II service.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* Minesweeping

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/02128.htm Velocity (MSF-128)- ex-AM-128]
* [http://www.multied.com/Navy/Minelayer/velocityII.html Velocity II AM-128]
* [http://nmsoa.org/tsd.htm The Silent Defenders]
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/class.html?ID=226 uboat.net - Allied Warships - Auk class Minesweepers]
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/ships-dm.html Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 Minecraft]