- USS Quail (AM-15)
USS "Quail" (AM-15) was an "Lapwing"-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."Quail" was named after the
quail , a migratory game bird. "Quail" was laid down14 May 1918 by theChester Shipbuilding Co.,Chester, Pennsylvania ; launched6 October 1918 ; and commissioned29 April 1919 .Post-World War I operations
"Quail" steamed to
Kirkwall, Scotland , to join theNorth Sea Mine Sweeping Detachment. She operated with this force clearing the North Sea of mines until25 November 1919 . She operated with the Atlantic Fleet inCuba n waters during early1920 , and then along theU.S. East Coast . In September1922 , she was attached to thesubmarine base atCoco Solo ,Panama Canal Zone , operating in theCaribbean . She made a cruise to the east coast in late1923 , and in1925 she was atPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania for repairs. In1927 she spent time patrolling the west coast ofNicaragua , and later joined the fleet in theCaribbean for maneuvers. From July1928 to January1929 , she was on the east coast, operating betweenVirginia andMassachusetts . She returned toCoco Solo in1929 . Following duty with the control force in thePanama Canal area from1929 to1931 , "Quail" operated out ofPearl Harbor, Hawaii , from1931 to1941 , including in her duties a period of survey work offAlaska .World War II Pacific operations
With the outbreak of war with Japan "Quail" was in the
Philippines . During the defense ofCorregidor , she swept a channel providing access to South Harbor, Corregidor. Her crew then went ashore to aid in the defense of that island. Damaged by enemy bombs and guns, "Quail" was scuttled5 May 1942 by U.S. forces to prevent her capture. Part of her crew escaped toDarwin, Australia , in a 36-foot motor launch.Awards
"Quail" received one
battle star forWorld War II service.References
See also
*
List of United States Navy ships
*Lapwing 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://www.historycentral.com/NAVY/Minelayer/quailI.html USS Quail I]
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/AM/AM-15_Quail.html Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 AM-15 USS Quail]
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5168.html USS Quail (AM 15)]
* [http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp?provider_id=319&ptp_photo_id=314648 Vessels/Mine Warfare: USS Quail (AM-15) from The United States ...]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-g/c17.htm USN Ships--USS Galveston (Cruiser # 17, later PG-31 and CL-19)]
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