USS Skill (AM-115)

USS "Skill" (AM-115) 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.

"Skill" was the first of two ships to bear that name. She was laid down on 28 November 1941 by American Shipbuilding Co. of Cleveland, Ohio; launched on 22 June 1942; and placed in service on 17 November 1942, Lt. Comdr. E. J. Kevern, USNR, in command.

North African operations

After a brief shakedown cruise, Skill was ordered to the Mediterranean Sea where she swept mines and performed other mine-warfare countermeasures along the North African coast before the invasion there. After the initial invasion at Salerno, Italy, she was assigned patrol and convoy duty in that area. She returned to the area from escort duty on 25 September 1943 and was assigned a patrol station.

Sunk by torpedo

At 1140, not long after she had taken station, her forward magazine exploded. This was probably due to a submarine's torpedo because a survivor, whose station was on the bridge, later reported having seen a wake of undetermined origin paralleling the ship at a distance of about 150 yards.

"Skill" was blown in half and the forward section capsized. The after half caught fire, and the flames moved aft until that section exploded and sank at about 1200. Ten minutes later, the capsized bow slipped beneath the waves. Of her 103 officers and men, none of the officers and only 32 of the men survived. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 11 October 1943.

Notes

"Skill" was mistaken for an Allied destroyer and was sunk by German submarine "U-593", captained by Kptlt. Gerd Kelbling. "U-593" had been laid down in 1940 in Hamburg, Germany and was successful in sinking Allied ships. Eventually, in the Mediterranean Sea, Allied warships caught up with it and it was sunk by the USS "Wainwright" and the HMS "Calpe". Unlike the "Skill", with its great loss of life, all crew members of "U-593" survived its sinking, and were taken captive by Allied forces.

Awards

"Skill" was awarded one battle star for World War II service.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* Auk class minesweeper
* World War II
* Minesweeper (ship)
* Minesweeping

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://home.earthlink.net/~am115/ USS Skill Data (AM-115)]
* [http://home.earthlink.net/~am115/u593.htm U-boat Net - Index of U-boats - U-593]
* [http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/AM/AM-115_Skill.html Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 AM-115 USS Skill]
* [http://www.multied.com/navy/Minelayer/skill.html USS Skill]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/02115.htm NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - Skill (AM-115)]
* [http://dsf.chesco.org/heroes/winchester/winchester.htm Chester County Hall of Heroes - Randolph Winchester]
* [http://www.navalminewarfareassociation.com/the_taps_list.htm THE TAPS LIST]
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Admin-Hist/148.3-Sicily/148.3-Sicily-5.html HyperWar: Naval Forces, Northwest African Waters and the Eighth ...]
* [http://www.submariners.co.uk/Dits/Articles/U593.htm Sinking of U-593]
* [http://home.earthlink.net/~am115/u593_log.htm U-593 DECK LOG]