| Auk-class minesweeper | |
|---|---|
 USS Chief (AM-315) | |
| Class overview | |
| Name: | Auk |
| Operators: |
 United States Navy Royal Navy(under Lend-Lease) Hellenic Navy Philippine Navy Turkish Navy Mexican Navy Republic of China Navy |
| Preceded by: | Raven-class minesweeper |
| Succeeded by: | USS Eagle (AM-132) |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Minesweeper |
| Displacement: |
890 tons 1,100 tons (full load) |
| Length: | 221 ft 2 in (67.41 m) |
| Beam: | 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m) |
| Draught: | 11 inches |
| Propulsion: | Diesel electric drive, twin screws, 3,500 hp (2,600 kW) |
| Speed: |
9-12 knots (standard) 18 knots (maximum) |
| Complement: | Approximately 100 crew |
| Armament: |
1x3in (76mm)/50 caliber gun (1x1) 2 x 40 mm Bofors 8 x 20 mm Oerlikons 2 depth charge tracks |
The Auk class were Allied minesweepers serving with the United States Navy and the British Royal Navy during the Second World War. In total, there were 95 Auks built.
Design and development[]
The Auk class displaced 890 tons on average, and had an approximate length of 220-225 feet. They could reach a maximum speed of about 18.1 knots (33.5 km/h). Auks were equipped with a single 3 inch gun, two 40 mm Bofors guns, and eight 20 mm Oerlikon guns.
Thirty-two minesweepers were ordered by the US (as BAM-1 to -32), intending them to be supplied to the Royal Navy under Lend-lease; 12 were retained for USN use and given names and the "AM" hull classification prefix.[1] Those transferred to the RN were named as the Catherine class receiving "J" pennant number prefixes.
Eleven minesweepers of the Auk class were lost in World War II, six to direct enemy action including USS Skill, torpedoed by U-593.
List of Auk class minesweepers[]
[]
- HMS Catherine (J12) - transferred to Turkey in March 1947 and renamed Erdemli. Stricken 1963.
- HMS Cato (J16) Sunk 6 July 1944 by German Neger human torpedo.
- HMS Chamois (J28) Damaged by mine, 21 July 1944.
- HMS Chance (J340) To Turkey, March 1947. Renamed Edremit. Stricken 1973.
- HMS Combatant (J341) Returned to US, 1946. Sold to Greece 1947.
- HMS Cynthia (J345) Returned to US, 1947. Scrapped 1947.
- HMS Elfreda (J402) To Turkey, March 1947. Renamed Cesme. Stricken 1974.
- HMS Fairy (J403) Returned to US, 1946.
- HMS Florizel (J404) Returned to US, 1946. Sold to Greece.
- HMS Foam (J405) Returned to US, 1946.
- HMS Frolic (J406) To Turkey, March 1947. Renamed Candarli. Became survey ship in 1960s. Stricken 1986.
- HMS Gazelle (J342) Returned to US, 1946.
- HMS Gorgon (J346) Returned to US, 1946. Sold to Greece.
- HMS Grecian (J352) To Turkey March 1947. Renamed Edincik. Stricken 1974.
- HMS Jasper (J407) Returned to US, 1946.
- HMS Magic (J400) Sunk 6 July 1944 by German Neger human torpedo.
- HMS Pique (J23) To Turkey March 1947. Renamed Ereğli. Stricken 1973
- HMS Pylades (J401) Sunk 8 July 1944 by German Biber human torpedo
- HMS Steadfast (J375) Returned to United States in 1946. Sold to Greece.
- HMS Strenuous (J335) Returned to United States 1946, but laid up until 1956 in the UK. Broken up in Germany, 1956.
- HMS Tattoo (J374) To Turkey, March 1947. Renamed Carsamba. Stricken 1985.
- HMS Tourmaline (J339) To Turkey, March 1947. Renamed Cardak. Stricken 1974.
[]
| Ship Name | Hull Number | Date Struck From Naval Vessel Register | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| USS Ardent | AM-340 | 1 July 1972 | Transferred to the Mexican Navy on 19 September 1972 |
| USS Auk | AM-57 | 1 August 1956 | Unknown |
| USS Broadbill | AM-58 | 1 July 1972, | Sold for scrap on 1 December 1973 |
| USS Champion | AM-314 | Unknown | Donated to the Mexican Navy on 19 September 1972. Still in active service. |
| USS Chickadee | AM-59 | Unknown | Transferred to the National Navy of Uruguay on 18 August 1966 |
| USS Chief | AM-315 | 1 July 1972 | Transferred to the Mexican Navy in February 1973. |
| USS Competent | AM-316 | 1972 | Transferred to the Mexican Navy in September 1972. |
| USS Defense | AM-317 | Approx. 1972 | Transferred to the Mexican Navy on 3 January 1973. |
| USS Devastator | AM-318 | Unknown | Transferred to the Mexican Navy in 1973. |
| USS Dextrous | AM-341 | Unknown. | Transferred to Republic of Korea Navy in December 1967 after service in the Korean War. |
| USS Gladiator | AM-319 | 1 July 1972 | Donated to the Mexican Navy in 1973. |
| USS Heed | AM-100 | 1 March 1967 | Unknown |
| USS Herald | AM-101 | 1 July 1972 | Donated to the Mexican Navy on 1 February 1973. |
| USS Impeccable | AM-320 | 1 July 1972 | Sold for scrap on 1 April 1974 |
| USS Minivet | AM-371 | 21 January 1946 | Sunk in action in the Tsushima Strait on 29 December 1945 |
| USS Motive | AM-102 | 1 December 1966 | Sunk as a target in April 1968 |
| USS Murrelet | AM-372 | 1 December 1964 | Transferred under FMS to the Philippine Navy in June 1965 |
| USS Nuthatch | AM-60 | 1 December 1966 | Sunk as a target. |
| USS Oracle | AM-103 | 1 December 1966 | Sunk as a target in the Winter of 1967 |
| USS Peregrine | AM-373 | 1 February 1969 | Unknown |
| USS Pheasant | AM-61 | 1 December 1966 | Sunk as a target. |
| USS Pigeon | AM-374 | 1 December 1966 | Sold for scrap. |
| USS Pilot | AM-104 | 1 July 1972 | Transferred to the Mexican Navy on 19 July 1972. |
| USS Pioneer | AM-105 | 1 July 1972 | Transferred to the Mexican Navy on 19 September 1972. |
| USS Pochard | AM-375 | 1 December 1966 | Sold for scrap. |
| USS Portent | AM-106 | Unknown | Sunk in action off of Anzio, Italy on 22 January 1944 |
| USS Prevail | AM-107 | 10 January 1964 | Sold for scrap on 13 October 1964. |
| USS Ptarmigan | AM-376 | 1 July 1963 | Transferred to Republic of Korea Navy on 25 July 1963. |
| USS Pursuit | AM-108 | 1 July 1960 | Unknown |
| USS Quail (AM-377) | AM-377 | 1 December 1966 | Sold for scrap. |
| USS Redstart | AM-378 | 1 April 1965 | Transferred to the Republic of China Navy on 25 July 1963. |
| USS Requisite | AM-109 | 1 April 1964 | Sold for scrap on March 1965. |
| USS Revenge | AM-110 | 1 November 1966 | Sold for scrap on May 1967. |
| USS Roselle | AM-379 | 1 July 1972 | Donated to the Mexican Navy on 1 February 1973. |
| USS Ruddy | AM-380 | Unknown | Transferred to the Peruvian Navy on 1 November 1960 |
| USS Sage | AM-111 | 1 July 1972 | Donated to the Mexican Navy on 4 February 1973. |
| USS Scoter | AM-381 | 1 December 1966 | Transferred to the Mexican Navy on 19 September 1972 |
| USS Seer | AM-112 | 1 March 1963 | Sold to the Royal Norwegian Navy on 15 December 1962 |
| USS Sentinel | AM-113 | 19 August 1943 | Sunk in action off of Licata, Italy on 10 July 1943 |
| USS Sheldrake | AM-62 | 30 June 1968 | Sold for scrap on 2 November 1971 |
| USS Shoveler | AM-382 | 17 May 1974 | Transferred to the Peruvian Navy on 1 May 1974 |
| USS Skill | AM-115 | 11 October 1943 | Sunk in action off of North Africa on 25 September 1943 |
| USS Skylark | AM-63 | 28 April 1945 | Sunk in action off of Yomitan, Okinawa on 28 April 1945 |
| USS Spear | AM-322 | 1 July 1972 | Transferred to the Mexican Navy on 19 September 1972. |
| USS Speed | AM-116 | Unknown | Transferred to Republic of Korea Navy on 17 November 1967. |
| USS Sprig | AM-384 | 1 July 1972 | Sold for scrap on 20 December 1973 |
| USS Staff | AM-114 | 1 March 1967 | Sold for scrap on 17 November 1967 |
| USS Starling | AM-64 | 1 July 1972 | Transferred to the Mexican Navy on 16 February 1973. |
| USS Steady | AM-118 | 1 February 1968 | Sold to the Republic of China Navy on 15 August 1967. |
| USS Strive | AM-117 | 1 October 1959 | Transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy on 1 October 1959 |
| USS Surfbird | AM-383 | 21 February 1975 | Sold to a private company on 5 December 1975 |
| USS Sustain | AM-119 | 1 October 1959 | Transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy on 1 October 1959 |
| USS Swallow | AM-65 | 2 June 1945 | Sunk in action off of the Ulithi atoll on 22 April 1945 |
| USS Sway | AM-120 | 1 July 1972 | Donated to the Mexican Navy on 16 February 1973. |
| USS Swerve | AM-121 | 22 August 1944 | Sunk in action off of Anzio, Italy on 9 June 1944 |
| USS Swift | AM-122 | 1 July 1972 | Scrapped |
| USS Symbol | AM-123 | 1 July 1972 | Transferred to the Mexican Navy on 19 September 1972. |
| USS Tanager | AM-385 | 1 November 1963 | Transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard on 16 July 1964. |
| USS Tercel | AM-386 | 1 July 1972 | Scrapped |
| USS Threat | AM-124 | 1 July 1972 | Donated to the Mexican Navy in 1973. |
| USS Tide | AM-125 | 29 July 1944 | Sunk in action off the coast of Normandy on 7 June 1944 |
| USS Token | AM-126 | 1 December 1966 | Unknown |
| USS Toucan | AM-387 | Unknown | Transferred to the Republic of China Navy on 22 December 1964. |
| USS Towhee | AM-388 | 1 May 1969 | Sold for scrap on 6 March 1969 |
| USS Triumph | AM-323 | 1 March 1961 | Transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy on 27 January 1961 |
| USS Tumult | AM-127 | 1 May 1967 | Sold for scrap |
| USS Usage | AM-130 | Unknown | Sold to the Turkish Navy. |
| USS Velocity | AM-128 | 1 July 1972 | Donated to the Mexican Navy on the same day it was struck. |
| USS Vigilance | AM-324 | 1 December 1966 | Transferred under FMS to the Philippine Navy August 1967 |
| USS Vital | AM-129 | 23 April 1947 | Sold to foreign purchaser. Served as a merchant marine vessel until sold for scrap in July 1956. |
| USS Waxwing | AM-389 | Unknown | Transferred to the Republic of China Navy on 14 October 1965 |
| USS Wheatear | AM-390 | 1 July 1972 | Sold for scrap on 20 December 1973 |
| USS Zeal | AM-131 | 1 December 1966 | Sunk as a target on 9 January 1967 |
See also[]
Notes[]
References[]
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Auk class minesweeper. |
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