Auk-class minesweeper

Class overview
USS Chief (AM-315)
Name:	Auk
Operators:	United States Navy Royal Navy (under Lend-Lease) Hellenic Navy Philippine Navy Republic of Korea 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)
Draft:	11 ft 0 in (3.35 m)
Propulsion:	Diesel electric drive, twin screws, 3,500 hp (2,600 kW)
Speed:	9–12 kn (10–14 mph; 17–22 km/h) (cruising) 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h) (maximum)
Complement:	Approximately 100 crew
Armament:	1 × 3-inch (76 mm) 50 caliber gun 2 × Bofors 40 mm guns 8 × 20 mm Oerlikon cannons 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

Royal Navy

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.

US Navy

Ship name	Hull number	Date removed 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 by mine 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	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

Notes

↑ "Mine Sweeper Photo Archive". NavSource.

References

Uboat.net

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Auk class minesweeper.

Auk-class minesweepers

United States Navy

Royal Navy
Catherine class

Akbar
Alice
Amelia
Amity
Augusta
Blaze
Brutus
Catherine
Cato
Chamois
Chance
Combatant
Cynthia
Elfreda
Errant
Espoir
Exploit
Fairy
Florizel
Foam
Frolic
Gazelle
Gorgon
Grecian
Jasper
Magic
Pique
Pylades
Steadfast
Strenuous
Tattoo
Tourmaline

Other operators

Republic of China Navy	Chien Men Chu Yung Mo Ling Wu Sheng

Republic of Korea Navy	Koje Shin Song Sunchon

Mexican Navy Valle class	Felipe Xicoténcatl Francisco Zarco Gutiérrez Zamora Hermenegildo Galeana Ignacio de la Llave Ignacio L. Vallarta Ignacio Miguel Altamirano Jesús González Ortega Juan Aldama Juan de la Barrera Juan N. Álvarez Leandro Valle Manuel Doblado Manuel Gutiérrez Zamora Mariano Escobedo Mariano Matamoros (G17) Mariano Matamoros (P117) Melchor Ocampo (G10) Melchor Ocampo (G16) Ponciano Arriaga Santos Degollado Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada Valentin Gómez Farías

Royal Norwegian Navy Gor class	Brage Gor Tyr Uller

Peruvian Navy	Diez Canseco Galvez

Philippine Navy Rizal class	Rizal Quezon

Turkish Navy	Çandarlı Çardak Çarşamba Çeşme Edincik Edremit Erdemli Ereğli

National Navy of Uruguay	Comandante Pedro Campbell

United States naval ship classes of World War II

Aircraft carriers	Lexington Ranger^S Yorktown Wasp^S Essex Midway^C

Light aircraft carriers	Independence Saipan^C

Escort carriers	Long Island Charger Bogue Sangamon Casablanca Commencement Bay

Battleships	Wyoming New York Nevada Pennsylvania New Mexico Tennessee Colorado North Carolina South Dakota Iowa Montana^X

Large cruisers	Alaska

Heavy cruisers	Pensacola Northampton Portland New Orleans Wichita^S Baltimore Oregon City^C Des Moines^C

Light cruisers	Omaha Brooklyn St. Louis Atlanta Cleveland Fargo^C Juneau^C Worcester^C

Gunboats	Asheville Tulsa Dubuque Plymouth^S Williamsburg^S St. Augustine^S Vixen^S Erie

Destroyers	Sampson Caldwell Wickes Clemson Farragut Porter Mahan Gridley Bagley Somers Benham Sims Benson Gleaves Fletcher Allen M. Sumner Robert H. Smith Gearing

Destroyer escorts	Evarts Buckley Cannon Edsall Rudderow John C. Butler

Patrol frigates	Asheville Tacoma

Patrol boats	Action

Minesweepers	Lapwing Raven Auk Eagle^S Hawk Admirable

Submarines	O R S Barracuda Argonaut^S Narwhal Dolphin^S Cachalot Porpoise Salmon Sargo Tambor Mackerel Gato Balao Tench

S Single ship of class C Completed after the war X Cancelled

British naval ship classes of the Second World War

Aircraft carriers	Courageous Argus Hermes Eagle Ark Royal Illustrious Unicorn Implacable Colossus Majestic^C Audacious^C Malta^X Centaur^C

Escort carriers	Archer^AV Audacity^V Avenger^AV Attacker^A Ruler^A Activity^V Pretoria Castle^V Nairana^V

Battleships	Queen Elizabeth Revenge Nelson King George V Lion^X Vanguard^C

Battlecruisers	Renown Hood

Heavy cruisers	Hawkins County York

Light cruisers	C Danae Emerald Leander Arethusa Town Dido Crown Colony Minotaur

Minelayers	Adventure Abdiel Plover Linnet Agamemnon^V Menestheus^V Port Napier^V Port Quebec^V Southern Prince^V Teviot Bank^V

Destroyer leaders	Shakespeare Scott

Destroyers	R S V & W Town^A Ambuscade Amazon A & B C & D E & F G & H I Tribal J, K & N Hunt L & M O & P Q & R S & T U & V W & Z C Battle Weapon^C G^X Daring^C,P

Frigates	River Captain^A Colony^A Loch Bay

Corvettes	Flower Castle

Sloops	24 Bridgewater Hastings Banff^A Shoreham Grimsby Kingfisher Bittern Egret Black Swan

Minesweepers	Hunt Halcyon Bangor Auk^A Algerine Cybele

Submarines	H L Odin Parthian Rainbow S River Grampus T U P611 V Amphion X XE

Coastal	Harbour Defence Motor Launch Fairmile B motor launch Motor Torpedo Boat Motor Gun Boat Steam Gun Boat

Other	Trawlers Isles Portuguese Tree Monitors Erebus Roberts Seaplane carriers Pegasus Albatross Merchant aircraft carriers Fighter catapult ships Armed merchant cruisers Ocean boarding vessels

A American built X Cancelled C Completed after the war C,P Laid down and completed after the war V Conversions

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