USS Chaffinch (AM-81)

USS Chaffinch (AM-81) was a minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Chaffinch.
History
United States
Ordered: as Trimont
Laid down: date unknown
Launched: 1928
Acquired: 29 November 1940
Commissioned: 16 July 1941
Decommissioned: 12 December 1945
Stricken: date unknown
Fate: transferred to the Maritime Commission, 23 September 1946.
General characteristics
Displacement: 401 tons
Length: 122 ft 6 in (37.34 m)
Beam: 23 ft 1 in (7.04 m)
Draught: 10 ft 11 in (3.33 m)
Speed: 10 knots
Complement: 36
Armament: one 3” gun mount

Career

Chaffinch was built in 1928 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Quincy, Massachusetts, as Trimont; purchased by the Navy 29 November 1940, and commissioned 16 July 1941, Lieutenant Edward Fluhr, USNR, in command.

Assigned to the 3d Naval District, Chaffinch arrived at New York City 10 August 1941. For the next year and a half, alert to the mounting German submarine menace, she swept for mines and patrolled waters off New York and New London, Connecticut. From 13 February 1943 until 8 January 1944, she performed similar duty off Newport, Rhode Island, under the 1st Naval District.

Continuing her essential support to the movement both of coastwise convoys, and those bound for distant ports, Chaffinch again served at New York harbor until 1 August 1945, when she cleared for Charleston, South Carolina. There she was decommissioned 12 December 1945, and transferred to the Maritime Commission 23 September 1946.

References

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


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