USS Sustain (AM-119)

USS "Sustain" (AM-119) was an , USS|Joseph E. Campbell|DE-70|2, and HMS|Blankney, the submarine "U-371" was sunk. "Sustain" rescued 30 survivors from the submarine. She continued escort duty until 23 June when she rejoined her squadron at Naples. She swept the coastal channels between Naples and Anzio and at Salerno before returning to Bizerte.

Participating in Operation Dragoon

"Sustain" joined the largest invasion fleet ever assembled in the Mediterranean on 12 August to participate in Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France. She entered the transport area at St. Raphael in early morning on 15 August and patrolled that area as the assault waves were landed. "Sustain" continued on patrol and sweeping duty until 4 October at which time she returned to Bizerte via Naples, Italy.

"Sustain" and her squadron joined a convoy of LST's and LCI's that sailed for the United States on 24 November. She arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, on 11 December 1944 and was refitted for duty in the Pacific.

Pacific Ocean operations

"Sustain" put to sea on 15 February 1945 en route to the Pacific war zone. She arrived at Coco Solo on the 22d; transited the canal on the 25th; and arrived at Pearl Harbor with the other ships of MinRon 6 on 19 March. The ship received a final overhaul in the yard. At this time air search radar was installed. "Sustain" sailed for Eniwetok on 24 April as a convoy escort and thence to Guam.

Sustain arrived at Apra Harbor, Guam, on 8 May and remained there until the end of the month when she sailed for Okinawa, arriving at Kerama Retto on 3 June and was assigned to antisubmarine patrol the remainder of the month. On 8 July, the minesweeper was detailed to sweep areas in the East China Sea. This duty lasted until 30 August when her area of operations was changed to Kagoshima, Kyūshū, to clear the bay so that occupation troops could be landed. After returning to Okinawa on 9 September for logistics, "Sustain" was ordered to sweep Bungo Suido. She swept that area from 24 September until 2 November when she steamed to Sasebo, Japan. During November and December, she swept mines in the East China Sea, off Takao, Formosa, and the southwest coast of that island. When that was completed, the ship sailed for Shanghai. She remained there from 23 December 1945 until 3 January 1946 when she set sail for the United States, via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor.

Post-World War II activity

"Sustain" was given a pre-inactivation overhaul at San Diego after her return in February and on 17 June 1946 was placed in reserve, out of commission.

"Sustain" was placed in commission again on 14 January 1952 and in April, she was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet for duty. She served that fleet along the U.S. East Coast and in the Mediterranean until 9 October 1954 when she was placed in reserve, in commission. On 2 February 1955, she was placed in reserve, out of commission at Green Cove Springs, Florida. On 5 February 1955, "Sustain" was reclassified from AM-119 to MSF-119, Minesweeper Fleet (steel-hulled). She was again redesignated MMC-2 in 1958.

Decommissioning

"Sustain" was struck from the Navy List on 1 October 1959 and transferred to the Kingdom of Norway on the same date.

Awards

"Sustain" received eight battle stars for World War II service.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-s/am119.htm USS Sustain (AM-119, later MSF-119 & MMC-2), 1942-1959]
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/AM/AM-119_Sustain.html Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 AM-119 USS Sustain]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/02119.htm NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo - Sustain (MMC-2) - ex-MSF-119 - ex-AM-119]