USS Broadbill (AM-58)

Broadbill (AM-58), was an Auk class minesweeper, named after the Broadbill, a family of small passerine bird species found in tropical southeast Asia and Africa. "Broadbill" was launched on 21 May 1942 at the Defoe Shipbuilding Company in Bay City, Michigan, sponsored by Mrs. A. Loring Swasey, wife of Captain Swasey. She was commissioned on October 13, 1942, with Lieutenant Commander J. B. Cleland, Jr., in command. After commissioning, she reported at Boston, Massachusetts to the Commander, Service Force, Atlantic Fleet.

Until April 1944, "Broadbill" escorted convoys between east coast and Gulf coast ports, and made two voyages to the Caribbean. On 11 April 1944, she got underway for England where she conducted numerous practice sweeps in preparation for the Normandy invasion.

On June 5, 1944 "Broadbill", as a unit of Mine Squadron 7, in company with 10 other minesweepers, cleared the approach channel to Utah Beach for fire support ships, and on 6 June, commenced sweeping the actual support area. On 25 June, she helped clear fire support areas off Cherbourg. Operations were continued off England and France until August. She then proceeded to Naples, via Oran, Algeria, and conducted sweeping operations in the Ligurian Sea, Bonifacio Straits, and around Sardinia and Corsica. Completing this assignment, Mine Squadron 7 arrived at Cavalaire Bay in southern France on 23 August 1944 to clear French harbors and approaches during Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France. On May 28, 1945, "Broadbill", in company with Mine Division 21, departed for Norfolk, Virginia, where she underwent repairs until August 30 1945.

On 17 September 1945, in company with Service Squadron 5, "Broadbill "got underway for San Pedro, California. She was subsequently ordered to Astoria, Oregon, arriving on 7 December for pre-inactivation overhaul. "Broadbill" went out of commission in reserve at San Diego on 3 June 1946.

Recommissioned on 19 March 1952, "Broadbill" operated off the California coast until 27 June 1952. She then sailed to Charleston, South Carolina, arriving there on 15 July. During the remainder of 1952, she operated out of Charleston and conducted one Caribbean training cruise.

In January 1953, she proceeded to the Mediterranean for a cruise with the 6th Fleet, returning to Charleston on 21 May 1953. She conducted routine operations off the Atlantic coast until August, when she reported for inactivation overhaul. "Broadbill" was placed out of commission in reserve on 25 January 1954, berthed at Orange, Texas. She was reclassified MSF-58 on 7 February 1955.

"Broadbill" was struck from the Navy list on 1 July 1972, and disposed of by Navy sale on 1 December 1973.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b9/broadbill-ii.htm