USS Threat (AM-124)

USS "Threat" (AM-124) 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.

"Threat" was laid down on 15 December 1941 at Savannah, Georgia, by the Savannah Machine and Foundry Co.; launched on 15 August 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Allan M. Robinson; and commissioned on 14 March 1943, Comdr. Allan M. Robinson, USNR, in command.

Convoy operations to North Africa

In March and April of 1943 "Threat" completed shakedown and exercises off the U.S. East Coast as she prepared for duty as a convoy escort on the Eastern Sea Frontier. During April, the minesweeper escorted convoys along the Atlantic coast; and, on 11 May, she got underway for her first transatlantic voyage. The convoy arrived at Casablanca on 1 June 1943, and, on 9 June, "Threat" departed North Africa with a convoy bound for New York. Throughout 1943, she continued escort duties in the Atlantic, completing three voyages to North Africa and numerous convoy shuttles along the Eastern Sea Frontier and into the Caribbean.

European operations

Early in 1944, "Threat" helped to protect a convoy as it steamed via the Azores to the British Isles. After this mission, "Threat" remained in the Falmouth area for repairs. In April and May, she operated out of Batten Bay and conducted exercises with ships of the British Royal Navy in preparation for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy.

Operation Overlord

On 2 June 1944, the ship was sealed and briefing commenced. On 5 June 1944, "Threat" departed Tor Bay with a minesweeping unit to take part in Operation Neptune, the assault phase of Operation Overlord. "Threat" helped clear the channels to be used by fire support ships in the Baie de la Seine. In the days that followed, "Threat" witnessed the sinking by mines of USS "Glennon", USS "Tide", and USS "Rich". On 8 June, while aiding the disabled USS "Rich", "Threat" narrowly missed becoming the victim of a mine that sank the destroyer escort off Cardonet Bank.

A shore battery fired on "Threat" as she was running acoustic and magnetic sweeps off Cherbourg on 9 June. The doughty minesweeper returned the fire with her 3-inch gun, silencing two shore gun employments and exploding a small ammunition dump. Commander, Mine Squadron 7, later commended "Threat" for her performance that day and gave special praise to the smart ship-handling operations that those operations had entailed.

Throughout June 1944, "Threat" continued to sweep waters off the French coast, occasionally drawing fire from German guns but escaping unscathed. While she swept channels for fire support ships in preparation for the bombardment of Cherbourg, she came under heavy fire from enemy emplacements. In July, "Threat" conducted daily sweeps of the Baie de la Seine, necessitated by the delayed action and time-release settings of mines left by the German forces.

Supporting the invasion of southern France

After replenishment at Plymouth, England, late in July, "Threat" returned to the Mediterranean. In August, she escorted convoys between Gibraltar and North Africa before proceeding to Corsica where she cleared shipping channels despite the activity of enemy planes. On 19 August, she got underway for assault areas on the southern coast of France. Operating out of St. Tropez and the Golfe de Fos, "Threat" conducted support activities for Operation Dragoon.

In September, "Threat" continued sweeps, patrols, and mine-watching missions off the coast of southern France. Following a quick run to Naples for provisions and fuel, she returned to the French coast to supply YMS's and continue minesweeping. Early in October, "Threat" escorted a convoy to Bizerte before engaging in visual sweeps for mines off the German-held Italian coast. While pursuing these duties, "Threat" exchanged gunfire with enemy shore batteries on more than one occasion before returning to French waters late in October.

Throughout November, "Threat" operated off France's southern coast. She cleared fire support channels and patrolled for floating mines in the area between Cannes and San Remo, before departing Cannes on 27 November 1944 for provisioning and ammunition replenishment at Bizerte.

The sweeper continued operations in the western Mediterranean in December. Early in the month, she swept mines off Cagliari, Sardinia; and, on 28 December, she departed Oran, escorting TG 81.14 bound for American ports. On 17 January 1945, she reached Norfolk after nearly a year of action in European waters.

Stateside overhaul

"Threat" remained on the east coast for major overhaul and the installation of SA-2 radar until 26 April when she departed Miami, Florida and steamed, via the Panama Canal Zone and San Diego, California, for Hawaii. She reached Pearl Harbor on 26 May 1945 and commenced gunnery and minesweeping exercises in preparation for her new assignment in the Pacific Ocean. On 11 June, she got underway for Ulithi where she rendezvoused with an Okinawa-bound convoy.

Pacific Ocean operations

After her arrival at Buckner Bay on 6 July, "Threat" soon joined sweeping operations in the China Sea. She continued these duties after V-J Day in August and, in September, took part in the clearing of heavily mined Tsugaru Strait in preparation for the occupation of Ominato. Through October and November, "Threat" continued sweeps in the East China Sea operating out of Honshū and Sasebo. In December, she plied the waters off Shanghai before setting course for San Diego and inactivation.

Decommissioning

"Threat" was decommissioned on 31 May 1946. Although she was reclassified as a steel-hulled fleet minesweeper (MSF-124) on 7 February 1955, "Threat" never resumed active service in the U.S. Navy, and was ultimately struck from the naval vessel register on 1 July 1972. Transferred to the government of Mexico along with several sisterships during 1973, she was renamed "Francisco Zarco" and given the pendant number IG-13 (later changed to G-13). She served in the Mexican Navy through the end of the 1980s.

Awards

"Threat" received three battle stars for World War II service.

References

See also

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

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/AM/AM-124_Threat.html Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 AM-124 USS Threat]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-eur/normandy/normandy.htm Normandy Invasion, June 1944]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/02124.htm NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - Threat (MSF-124) - ex-AM-124]
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5237.html USS Threat (AM 124)]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/t5/tide.htm Threat (AM-124) and Pheasant (AM-61) tried to aid Tide, but the ship was beyond saving]