USS Linnet (AM-76)

History
Name	USS Linnet
Builder	Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
Laid down	18 June 1928
Launched	15 December 1928, as MV Georgetown
Acquired	4 September 1940
Commissioned	3 March 1941, as USS Linnet (AM-76)
Decommissioned	18 December 1944
Renamed	Linnet, 14 August 1940
Reclassified	Unclassified Miscellaneous Auxiliary, IX-166, 20 April 1944
Fate	Returned to the War Shipping Administration, 31 July 1945
General characteristics
Class and type	Kite-class minesweeper
Displacement	410 long tons (417 t)
Length	123 ft 10 in (37.74 m)
Beam	23 ft (7.0 m)
Draft	12 ft (3.7 m)
Propulsion	1 × 400 shp (298 kW) Fairbanks-Morse diesel engine 1 × shaft
Speed	10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Armament	1 × 3"/50 caliber gun 2 × .30 caliber machine guns

USS Linnet (AM-76), was a Kite-class minesweeper of the United States Navy during World War II.

Laid down on 18 June 1928 as the M/V Georgetown by Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine, for F. J. O'Hara and Sons, Inc. of Boston, Massachusetts. The ship was launched on 15 December 1928, and delivered on 19 December 1928. Renamed Linnet on 14 August 1940. Acquired by the U.S. Navy on 4 September 1940, conversion to a minesweeper began in September 1940 at the Bethlehem Steel Co. of East Boston, Massachusetts. Commissioned as USS Linnet (AM-76) on 3 March 1941, conversion was completed in March 1941. Reclassified as an Unclassified Miscellaneous Auxiliary IX-166 on 20 April 1944.

World War II Atlantic operations[]

Assigned to the Mine Warfare School, Yorktown, Virginia, Linnet engaged in experiments and training in the intricacies of mine operations. Upon completion of training in the spring 1942, the minesweeper sailed to join Fleet operations in the South Atlantic.

South Atlantic operations[]

Based at Recife, Brazil, Linnet played an important role in harbor clearing operations to permit the free movement of ships from that port. She regained in Brazilian waters until 22 February 1944, when she sailed for Norfolk, Virginia, arriving there 17 March. Linnet was reclassified IX-168 on 20 April for possible use as a small cargo ship.

End-of-War deactivation[]

Plans were changed, however, and she was decommissioned on 18 December 1944 at Boston, Massachusetts. Returned to the War Shipping Administration on 31 July 1945, and converted to mercantile service and renamed M/V Cambridge. Fate unknown.

References[]

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links[]

• Photo gallery of USS Linnet (AM-76/IX-166) at NavSource Naval History
• Photo gallery At Naval Historical Center