- USS Sentry (AM-299)
USS Sentry (AM-299) was an
Admirable-class minesweeper built for theU.S. Navy duringWorld War II . She was built to clear minefields in offshore waters. She served in thePacific Ocean and, because of her valiant efforts in combat, her proud crew returned home with sixbattle stars and theNavy Unit Commendation and a Presidential Unit Citation."Sentry" was laid down on
16 May 1943 by theWinslow Marine Railway and Shipbuilding Co.,Seattle, Washington ; launched on15 August 1943 sponsored by Miss Nanette L. Pratt, and commissioned on30 May 1944 , Lt. Thomas R. Fonick in command.World War II Pacific Theatre operations
After shakedown, "Sentry" sailed from
San Francisco, California , on28 August 1944 and joined theU.S. 7th Fleet at Manus on6 October for theLeyte invasion. She arrived off the Leyte beaches on17 October and carried out a three-day pre-invasion sweep. She continued sweeping during and after the initial landings on20 October until joining the transports on24 October to provideantiaircraft support.Supporting the invasion of the Philippines
"Sentry" remained in
Leyte Gulf for the next six weeks then participated in most of the subsequent landings in thePhilippines . With her division, Mine Division 34 she carried out pre-invasion sweeps atOrmoc Bay on6 December 1944 ,Mindoro Island on14 December Lingayen Gulf on6 January 1945 , andZambales andSubic Bay on 29-31 January . For all but theOrmoc landings, she remained on the scene after the initial troop landings, helping extend the mineswept areas and providingantisubmarine and antiaircraft protection to the transports. Few mines were encountered, butkamikaze resistance was intense, and the ships saw much antiaircraft action.Fired on by Japanese shore batteries
On
13 February , "Sentry" and her division began pre-invasion sweeps inManila Bay in preparation for the landings atMariveles andCorregidor . While sweeping off Corregidor on the 14th, the minesweepers came within 5,000 yards of the island and were repeatedly straddled by Japanese fire before supporting ships silenced the enemy's guns. "Sentry" continued sweeping in Manila Bay through19 February , and her division earned aNavy Unit Commendation for the operation.During the next two and one-half months, "Sentry" carried out various local sweeps in support of mop-up operations in the
Philippines , the most notable being a pre-assault sweep for the landings atLegaspi ,Luzon on1 April , and an 8-day sweep in theSulu Sea offPalawan beginning on22 April . On9 May , the ship arrived atMorotai to prepare for operations in theNetherlands East Indies .Supporting Brunei Bay invasion
Between 7 and
18 June , "Sentry" supported the landings atBrunei Bay ,Borneo ; and, between22 June and15 July , she helped clear the way for the assault atBalikpapan . During both operations, the minesweepers came under fire from shore batteries; and one ship, USS|Salute|AM-294, was sunk by a mine on8 June . "Sentry's" task unit received a Presidential Unit Citation for its service off Borneo between15 June and1 July 1945 .End-of-war activity
After overhaul at
Subic Bay , "Sentry" departed thePhilippines on8 September and arrived at SaseboJapan , on20 October , having accepted the surrender of the Japanese army garrison ofShan Zaki in theRyukyus while en route. In the following weeks, she swept Japanese minefields in the Ryukyus, theTsushima Strait , and theVan Diemen Strait . She sailed from Sasebo on9 December for theUnited States .Post-war decommissioning
Arriving at
Orange, Texas , on2 April 1946 , she was decommissioned there on19 June 1946 and placed in reserve. Her classification was changed from AM-299 to MSF-299, effective7 February 1955 . "Sentry" was struck from theNavy list on1 February 1962 and transferred to theRepublic of Vietnam on31 August 1962 asKy Hoa (HQ-09) .Awards
In addition to her six
battle stars for World War II service, "Sentry" was also awarded aNavy Unit Commendation and a Presidential Unit Citation.References
See also
*
List of United States Navy ships
*World War II
*Patrol boat
*Minelayer
* MinesweeperExternal links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/02299.htm NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - Sentry (MSF 299) - ex-AM-299]
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