USS Barbican (ACM-5)

USS "Barbican" (ACM-5) was a "Chimo"-class minelayer in the United States Navy.

"Barbican" was constructed by the Marietta Manufacturing Co. at Point Pleasant, West Virginia, for the U.S. Army as the mine planter Col. George Armistead was acquired by the U.S. Navy from the Army Coast Artillery at Charleston, South Carolina, on 6 January 1945; renamed "Barbican" and designated an auxiliary minelayer, ACM-5, on 19 January 1945; converted for naval service by the Charleston South Carolina Navy Yard; and placed in commission there on 24 March 1945, Lt. Comdr. Alexander Anderson, Jr., in command.

End-of-War Pacific Theatre operations

Following shakedown training out of Charleston, South Carolina, between 31 March and 24 April, USS Barbican arrived in the Pacific late in the summer of 1945 too late to participate in the war against Japan. In fact, "Barbican" did not depart Pear1 Harbor and head for the western Pacific until 17 August, two days after the Japanese capitulation ended hostilities. On her way west, the auxiliary minelayer made one stop at Midway Island before arriving at Saipan in the Marianas on 20 September.

There, she reported for duty with the Commander, Minecraft, Pacific Fleet. For a little more than a month, she served as tender and flagship for a squadron of motor minesweepers (YMS), performing those duties both at Saipan and at Okinawa. Late in October, the ship moved from Okinawa to Sasebo, Japan, where she took part in the postwar occupation of Japan. That assignment lasted unti1 24 February 1946, when she headed back to the United States.

Decommissioning

She reported to the Commandant, 12th Naval District, late in April 1946 for duty pending inactivation. "Barbican" was placed out of commission at San Francisco, California, on 12 June 1946 and was transferred simultaneously to the U.S. Coast Guard. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 19 July 1946.

References

ee 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.navsource.org/archives/11/0105.htm NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - USCGC Ivy (WBL 329) - ex-USCGC Ivy (WAGL 329) - ex-Barbicon (ACM 5) - ex-Colonel George Armistead]