- USS Lapwing (AM-1)
USS "Lapwing" (AM-1/AVP-1) was the
lead ship of her class of minesweeper — indeed, the first minesweeper of theUnited States Navy . She was named after a bird, the lapwing, an abundant crestedplover ("Vanellus vanellus") of Europe, Asia, andnorthern Africa , noted for its slow, irregular, flapping flight and its shrill wailing cry. "Lapwing" was laid down25 October 1917 byTodd Shipyard Co. ,New York ; launched14 March 1918 ; sponsored by Miss Agnes Forshew Schlegel; and commissioned12 June 1918 , Lt. (jg.) William Fremgen in command.World War I minesweeping operations
Following several
convoy escort cruises to Halifax, "Lapwing" departedNew London, Connecticut ,26 September 1918 for Europe. Assigned to theNorth Sea mine barrage, the minesweeper removed 2,160 mines from British waters between June and September 1919.Upon her return to the
United States , she was dispatched to the West Coast, arrivingSan Diego on21 October 1920 . Sailing forPearl Harbor in January 1921, "Lapwing" engaged in minesweeping operations inHawaii an waters until she decommissioned11 April 1922 .Second commissioning
"Lapwing" recommissioned at Pearl Harbor
1 September 1932 , Lt. R. J. Arnold in command. She arrivedCoco Solo ,Canal Zone ,29 October for operations with the aircraft scouting force. From 1933 to 1941, "Lapwing" participated in various exercises with aircraft, helping develop Americannaval aviation capability for its decisive role in future wars. Reclassified as a Small Seaplane Tender, AVP-1, on22 January 1936 , she operated primarily withseaplane s in thePanama Canal Zone , along the West Coast, and in theCaribbean .World War II operations
Based at
Trinidad ,British West Indies , upon the outbreak ofWorld War II , "Lapwing" was assigned to theNorth Atlantic . Departing the Caribbean26 February 1942, she arrivedNarsarssuak ,Greenland ,12 May . Operating with Patrol Wing 3, "Lapwing" remained in the frigid North Atlantic, engaging in patrol and ASW missions with seaplanes. After another brief tour in the Caribbean, theseaplane tender arrivedKey West 13 June 1943 for duty as a training ship. Operating out of theFleet Sound School for 11 months, "Lapwing" aided in the perfection of air ASW technology. After a cruise toRecife, Brazil (May–August 1944), as atask force support unit, the seaplane tender returned Key West 4 September and operated there for the rest of the war.Decommissioning
Arriving
Charleston, South Carolina ,5 October 1945 , "Lapwing" decommissioned there29 November 1945 . She was sold by WSA on19 August 1946 to W. S. Sanders,Norfolk, Virginia .References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l4/lapwing-i.htm
External links
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/02001.htm NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - "Lapwing" (AVP 1) - ex-AM-1 - ex-Minesweeper No. 1]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/am-1.htm AM-1 "Lapwing"]
* [http://www.ibiblio.net/hyperwar/USN/ships/ships-av.html Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940–1945]
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