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Soviet minesweeper T-117
Career (United States) US flag 48 stars
Name: USS Arch (AMc-121)
Builder: Tampa Shipbuilding Company
Reclassified: AM-144, 21 February 1942
Laid down: 10 October 1942
Launched: 7 December 1942
Completed: 6 September 1943
Fate: Transferred to the Soviet Union, 6 September 1943
Reclassified: MSF-144, 7 February 1955
Struck: 1 January 1983
Career (Soviet Union) Naval Ensign of the Soviet Union
Name: T-117
Acquired: 6 September 1943
Renamed: TB-22, 15 October 1955
Renamed: VTR-22, 8 March 1966

T-117 was a minesweeper of the Soviet Navy during World War II and the Cold War. She had originally been built as USS Arch (AM-144), an Admirable-class minesweeper, for the United States Navy during World War II, but never saw active service in the U.S. Navy. Upon completion she was transferred to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease as T-117; she was never returned to the United States. The ship was renamed several times in Soviet service and was scrapped on 19 September 1967. Because of the Cold War, the U.S. Navy was unaware of this fate and the vessel remained on the American Naval Vessel Register until she was struck on 1 January 1983.

Career[]

Arch was laid down on 18 October 1942 at Tampa, Florida, by the Tampa Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 7 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. A. M. Kearny; and completed on 6 September 1943. She was transferred to the Soviet Navy that same day as T-117. She was never returned to U.S. custody.

In Soviet service, the ship was renamed TB-22 on 15 October 1955, and VTR-22 on 8 March 1966. She was eventually scrapped on 19 September 1967.

Due to the ongoing Cold War, the U.S. Navy was unaware of this fate. They had reclassified the vessel as MSF-144 on 7 February 1955, and kept her on the American Naval Vessel Register until she was struck on 1 January 1983.

References[]

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

External links[]


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The original article can be found at Soviet minesweeper T-117 and the edit history here.