USS Tanager (AM-385)

USS "Tanager" (AM-385) was an "Auk"-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.

"Tanager" was named after the tanager, any of the numerous American, passerine birds. The brightly colored males are unmusical and inhabit woodlands. "Tanager", a minesweeper and the second U.S. Navy warship with that name, was laid down at Lorain, Ohio, on 29 March 1944 by the American Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 9 December 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Thomas Slingluff; and commissioned on 28 July 1945, Lt. Comdr. Oscar B. Lundgren, USNR, in command.

Operations with the U.S. 2nd Fleet

"Tanager" steamed via the St. Lawrence River to Boston, Massachusetts, in late July and early August. In October, she moved south to the Naval Amphibious Base at Little Creek, Virginia, for shakedown training and mine-sweeping exercises in the Chesapeake Bay area. For almost six years, "Tanager" operated with the U.S. 2nd Fleet along the eastern seaboard and in the Caribbean area. She conducted minesweeping exercises and supported the training efforts of the Mine Warfare School at Yorktown, Virginia. On three occasions—once each in 1948, 1950, and 1951—she did tours of duty with the Naval Mine Countermeasures Station, located at Panama City, Florida.

"Med cruise" with the 6th Fleet

On 2 September 1951, she departed Charleston, South Carolina, for the Mediterranean Sea. While she was deployed with the U.S. 6th Fleet, she conducted more minesweeping exercises and visited many of the famous ports in the area. Among those were Mers-el-Kebir, Gibraltar, Naples, Monaco, Cannes, Venice, Malta, and Genoa.

Second Mediterranean tour of duty

In February 1952, "Tanager" returned to Charleston and resumed operations with the U.S. 2nd Fleet. After repairs at Charleston and a voyage to Norfolk, Virginia, and back, the minesweeper began her second Mediterranean deployment in April 1953. During that cruise, she added some new ports-of-call to her itinerary, notably Tangier, Palermo, Marseille, Leghorn, Salonika, and Seville. She also participated in a number of minesweeping exercises with other units of the U.S. 6th Fleet. "Tanager" re-entered Charleston on 26 October 1953.

Decommissioning

Following minesweeping exercises along the southeastern coast of the United States and in the Caribbean, she entered the yard at Savannah Machine & Foundry Co. on 29 June 1954 for repairs. On 23 September, the minesweeper departed Savannah, Georgia, and headed for Beaumont, Texas. She arrived on the 28th and entered the drydock the same day. She was refloated on 8 October and towed to the naval station at Orange, Texas. Two months later, on 10 December 1954, "Tanager" was decommissioned and berthed there with the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. On 7 February 1955, the minesweeper was redesignated MSF-385.

Transfer to the U.S. Coast Guard

On 4 October 1963, "Tanager" was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard for use as a training cutter. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 1 November 1963, and she was commissioned in the U.S. Coast Guard as "Tanager" WTR-885 on 16 July 1964.

Decommissioning by the U.S. Coast Guard

She was decommissioned once more on 1 February 1972; and, on 15 November, she was sold to Mr. William A. Hardesty of Seattle, Washington.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* Auk class minesweeper
* Minesweeper (ship)
* Minesweeping
* U.S. Coast Guard

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/AM/AM-385_Tanager.html Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 AM-385 USS Tanager]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Vista/1507/Minesweeper.htm Minesweeper]
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5396.html USS Tanager (AM 385)]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/02385.htm NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - USCGC Tanager (WTR 885) - ex-USS Tanager (MSF 385) - ex-AM-385]
* [http://www.minesweep.org/hams.htm Minewarfare Sailors who are Hams]