USS Tide (AM-125)

USS "Tide" (AM-125) 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.

"Tide" was an oceangoing minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for the the cyclic rising and falling of Earth's ocean surface, she was the only US Naval vessel to bear the name.

"Tide" was laid down on 16 March 1942 at Savannah, Georgia, by the Savannah Machinery and Foundry Company; launched on 7 September 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Ruth Hangs; and commissioned on 9 May 1943 with Lieutenant Commander Alvin Robinson, USNR, in command.

North African operations

Following shakedown training out of Key West and Norfolk, "Tide" got underway from Hampton Roads for her first transatlantic voyage. On 17 July, as she steamed in "convoy" for North Africa, the minesweeper collided with an infantry landing craft, "LCI-267", which she had just provisioned. Damage to the sweeper included sprung plates and two minor hull punctures which were repaired at sea. "Tide" arrived at Casablanca on 18 July and was soon on her way again escorting a convoy bound for American ports. During the homeward voyage on 29 July, a sonar contact prompted "Tide" to drop depth charges on what she thought was an enemy submarine. Although a later search revealed an oil slick, no submarine sinking was confirmed.

tateside operations

Following her arrival at New York on 9 August, "Tide" operated on the Eastern Sea Frontier until 30 September. In October and November, she made another successful Atlantic crossing, returning to New York on 25 November 1943. During December, "Tide" participated in exercises off the Maine coast and conducted mine warfare training off Yorktown, Virginia. Convoy duties in the waters of the Eastern Sea Frontier and the Caribbean occupied her during January 1944. On the 25th, "Tide" got underway again for what was to be her longest convoy escort assignment. Departing Charleston, she steamed, via Bermuda and the Azores, for the United Kingdom.

European operations

"Tide" completed this voyage at Milford Haven harbor, England, on 10 March and spent the remainder of the month operating out of Falmouth. In April and May, she escorted convoys in British coastal waters and engaged in exercises with minesweepers of the Royal Navy in preparation for the invasion of Europe. In the last week of May, "Tide" made sweeps out of Babbacombe Bay. On 5 June, "Tide" got underway from Tor Bay with Minesweeper Squadron "A," a unit assigned to the "Utah" area. Later that day, German mines began to take their toll as "Osprey" (AM-56), a squadron member, went down. As the day wore on, "Tide" swept channels off the Normandy beaches for fire-support ships and continued sweeps the next day, "D-Day." During the night of 6 and 7 June, she joined other vessels in guarding Carentan Estuary to prevent the sally of enemy E-boats.

On the morning of 7 June, "Tide" swept the area inshore and between St. Marcauf and Barfleur to clear lanes for fire-support ships. At 0940, while recovering her gear, "Tide" drifted over the Cardonet Banks and struck a mine which exploded with such force that she was lifted out of the water. The explosion broke her back, blasted a tremendous hole in her bottom, and tore away all bulkheads below the waterline causing immediate and irreversible flooding. "Tide's" commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Allard B. Heyward, USNR, died soon after the initial explosion, and Lieutenant Commander George Crane, the ship's executive officer, directed efforts to assist the stricken vessel and to rescue survivors. The USS "Threat" (AM-124) and USS "Pheasant" (AM-61) tried to aid "Tide", but the ship was beyond saving. When the USS "Swift" (AM-122) attempted to tow the damaged ship to the beach, the strain broke her in two. She sank only minutes after the last survivors had been taken off. Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 29 July 1944.

"Tide" received one battle star for World War II service.

References

ee also

* List of United States Navy losses in World War II

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-t/am125.htm USN Ships--USS Tide (AM-125) This page features all the views we have related to USS Tide.]
* [http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/logs/AM/am125-Crane.html HyperWar: USS Tide (AM-125) Narrative of sinking at Normandy]
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/AM/AM-125_Tide.html Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 AM-125 USS Tide]
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5238.html USS Tide (AM 125)]
* [http://www.techography.com/article.php?story=20060605124606364 Techography - Battle for Fox Green Beach]