- USS Firecrest (AMc-33)
USS "Firecrest" (AMc-33) was a "Firecrest"-class
coastal minesweeper acquired by theU.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.The wooden-hulled
purse seiner "S. G. Giuseppe", built in 1937 atWilmington, California , by the boatbuilders Trigoning and Carlson, was acquired by the Navy from M. B. Giuseppe, ofSan Pedro, California , on5 November 1940 , and delivery and acceptance by the Commandant,11th Naval District , took place the same day. Conversion to acoastal minesweeper began immediately, at the Campbell Machine Co., ofSan Diego, California ; renamed "Firecrest" and designated as a coastal minesweeper ("AMc-33"), the ship was placed in service on4 April 1941 , Ensign Charles S. Judson, Jr.,USNR , officer-in-charge.World War II service
By the end of April 1941, "Firecrest" was operating out of the Section Base, San Diego, north of the
destroyer base at that port. In concert with USS|Courser|AMc-32, she began daily operations in San Diego harbor, streaming her sweep gear; she also conducted independent sweeping operations during that time. As the spring of 1941 gave way to the summer, "Firecrest" alternately swept the harbor waters with her magnetic or acoustical gear, patrolled, or conducted training. On17 July 1941 , during a towing operation in a heavy ground swell, she lost one of her 400-pound anchors.Attack on Pearl Harbor
After a brief period out of commission pending the arrival of new parts for her 540 kilowatt generator engine (
3 December –4 December 1941 ), she resumed active operations on5 December 1941 , underway on assigned duty planting drill mines. Two days later, however, the Japanese surprise attack against theU.S. Pacific Fleet atPearl Harbor resulted in emergency duty for "Firecrest" at the harbor entrance, with four new men being assigned to her complement.Assigned minesweeping and patrol duties
With her home yard at Mare Island,
Vallejo, California , and her home port, San Diego, "Firecrest" was transferred from duty under Commander,Western Sea Frontier to Commander, Naval Local Defense Forces,11th Naval District , on16 March 1943 . She conducted coastal patrol and minesweeping operations into the following summer.Services no longer required
"Firecrest's" services "no longer required in minesweeping duties," Commandant,
11th Naval District , was requested (20 July 1944 ) to remove all type and military equipment and place her out of service with an eye toward future disposition. Accordingly placed out of service on18 September 1944 , "Firecrest" was stricken from theNavy Register on14 October 1944 and delivered to theWar Shipping Administration on3 April 1945 .Post-war return to fishing
Reverting to her original name, "S. G. Giuseppe", soon thereafter, and under the ownership of Antonio D'Ambra of
Los Angeles, California , she operated in the fishing trade into the early 1950s.References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f2/firecrest_i.htm
External links
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/03033.htm NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - Firecrest (AMc 33)]
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