Auk-class minesweeper

	USS Chief underway in 1952
Class overview
Name	Auk class
Operators	United States Navy; Royal Navy (under Lend-Lease); Hellenic Navy; Philippine Navy; Republic of Korea Navy; Turkish Naval Forces; Mexican Navy; Republic of China Navy;
Preceded by	Raven class
Succeeded by	USS Eagle
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 knots (17–22 km/h; 10–14 mph) (cruising); 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) (maximum);
Complement	Approximately 100
Armament	1 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 cal. 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 (67–69 m). They could reach a maximum speed of about 18.1 knots (33.5 km/h; 20.8 mph). Auks were equipped with a single 3-inch (76 mm) gun, two 40 mm Bofors guns, and eight 20 mm Oerlikon guns. They were visually similar to the preceding Raven class but adopted diesel-electric, rather than diesel, propulsion to permit magnetic mine sweep gear to be powered.^[1]

Twenty of these ships were transferred to the Royal Navy under Lend-lease^[2] and named as the Catherine class, with "J" pennant number prefixes. Of these twenty, three were sunk in action, and 17 were returned to the U.S. after the war.

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[]

- transferred to Turkey in March 1947 and renamed Erdemli. Stricken 1963.
Sunk 6 July 1944 by German Neger human torpedo.
Damaged by mine, 21 July 1944.
To Turkey, March 1947. Renamed Edremit. Stricken 1973.
Returned to US, 1946. Sold to Greece 1947.
Returned to US, 1947. Scrapped 1947.
To Turkey, March 1947. Renamed Cesme. Stricken 1974.
Returned to US, 1946.
HMS Florizel (J404) Returned to US, 1946. Sold to Greece.
Returned to US, 1946.
To Turkey, March 1947. Renamed Candarli. Became survey ship in 1960s. Stricken 1986.
Returned to US, 1946.
Returned to US, 1946. Sold to Greece.
To Turkey March 1947. Renamed Edincik. Stricken 1974.
Returned to US, 1946.
Sunk 6 July 1944 by German Neger human torpedo.
To Turkey March 1947. Renamed Ereğli. Stricken 1973
HMS Pylades (J401) Sunk 8 July 1944 by German Biber midget submarine
Returned to United States in 1946. Sold to Greece.
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	Discarded 1959 ^[3]
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 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	Discarded 1960^[4]
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 in March 1965.
USS Revenge	AM-110	1 November 1966	Sold for scrap in 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 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 North Africa on 25 September 1943
USS Skylark	AM-63	28 April 1945	Sunk in action off 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 the Ryukyu Islands 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 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[]

^ Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946. Conway Maritime Press. 2001. p. 150. ISBN 0851771467.
^ "NavSource photo archive: index of mineSweepers". NavSource.
^ per US WARSHIPS OF WORLD WAR 2, Paul H. Silverstone, Naval Institute Press, 1965)
^ (per US WARSHIPS OF WORLD WAR 2, Paul H. Silverstone, Naval Institute Press, 1965)

References[]

Uboat.net

External links[]

[1] Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946. Conway Maritime Press. 2001. p. 150. ISBN 0851771467.

[2] "NavSource photo archive: index of mineSweepers". NavSource.

[3] r US WARSHIPS OF WORLD WAR 2, Paul H. Silverstone, Naval Institute Press, 1965)

[4] (per US WARSHIPS OF WORLD WAR 2, Paul H. Silverstone, Naval Institute Press, 1965)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

v t 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 Atlanta Cleveland Fargo^C Juneau^C Worcester^C CL-154^X
Gunboats	Dubuque Sacramento^S Asheville Plymouth^S Williamsburg^S St. Augustine^S Vixen^S Erie PGM-1 PGM-9
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 PT boat
Minelayers	Oglala^S Wassuc^S Monadnock^S Miantonomah^S Terror^S Keokuk^S Salem^S Weehawken^S Camanche Chimo
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
Tankers	T1 tanker T2 tanker T3 tanker
Cargo ships	Liberty Victory Haskell Andromeda Arcturus Artemis Tolland Alstede Aldebaran Adria Acubens Arctic Denebola Hyades Mizar
Auxiliary ships	Ammunition Floating drydock Repair dock Barracks Collier Combat stores Destroyer tender Depot High-speed transport Hospital Net laying Motor torpedo boat tender Oiler Repair Seaplane tender Submarine tender Underway replenishment
C Completed after the war S Single ship of class X Cancelled

v t British naval ship classes of the Second World War
Aircraft carriers	Courageous Eagle Ark Royal Illustrious Implacable Audacious^C Malta^X
Light aircraft carriers	Argus Hermes Unicorn Colossus Majestic^C 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 Fiji Minotaur Neptune^X Minotaur (1947)^X
Destroyer leaders	Thornycroft type (Shakespeare) Admiralty type (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
Minelayers	Adventure Abdiel Plover Linnet Agamemnon^V Menestheus^V Port Napier^V Port Quebec^V Southern Prince^V Teviot Bank^V
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 Insect-class gunboat Dragonfly-class river gunboat Type Two 63 ft HSL
Other	Trawlers Isles Portuguese Tree Dance Shakespearian Round Table 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