The Admirable class was one of the largest and most successful classes of minesweepers ordered by the United States Navy during World War II. Typically, minesweepers detected and removed naval mines before the rest of the fleet arrived, thereby ensuring safe passage for the larger ships. They were also charged with anti-submarine warfare (ASW) duties with rear-mounted depth charge racks and a forward-firing Hedgehog antisubmarine mortar. Their job was essential to the safety and success of U.S. naval operations during World War II and the Korean War. These minesweepers were also employed as patrol vessel and convoy escorts. The only remaining ship of this class is located at Freedom Park, Omaha, NE.
USS Execute (AM-232) was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was originally ordered and laid down as USS PCE-905, the lead ship of the PCE-905 class of patrol craft. She was reclassified as an Admirable-class minesweeper by the time of her June 1944 launch, and named Execute by the time of her November 1944 commissioning. After service in the Pacific during World War II, she was decommissioned in August 1946 and placed in reserve. While she remained in reserve, Execute was reclassified as MSF-232 in February 1955 but never reactivated. In 1962, she was sold to the Mexican Navy and renamed ARM DM-03. In 1994, she was renamed ARM General Juan N. Méndez (C51). She was stricken in July 2001, but her ultimate fate is not reported in secondary sources.
USS Ampere (PCE-919/AM-359/YDG-11/ADG-11) was originally planned as a PCE-905-class patrol craft for the United States Navy, PCE-919, and laid down as an Admirable-class minesweeper, named Drake, for the male duck. Before she was commissioned, her name was cancelled and she was reclassified as a District Degaussing Vessel. She was later renamed Ampere, after the ampere, a unit of electric current, which takes its name from the French physicist André-Marie Ampère.
The third USS Magnet (ADG-9) was a degaussing vessel of the United States Navy, named after the magnet. Originally planned as a patrol craft escort (PCE-879), she was laid down on 27 May 1943 by the Albina Engine & Machine Works of Portland, Oregon; launched 30 September 1943; reclassified YDG-9 on 23 December 1943; and commissioned 10 July 1944.
USS Lodestone (ADG-8) was a degaussing vessel of the United States Navy, named after the mineral lodestone. Originally planned as a patrol craft escort (PCE-876), she was laid down on 27 May 1943 by the Albina Engine & Machine Works of Portland, Oregon; launched 30 September 1943; reclassified YDG-8 on 23 December 1943; and commissioned 10 July 1944.
USS Dextrous (AM-341) was an Auk-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy which served in World War II, the Korean War, and beyond. She was later transferred to the Republic of Korea Navy where she served as ROKS Koje (PCE-1003).
USS Ptarmigan (AM-376) was an Auk-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing. She was the only U.S. Navy ship named for the ptarmigan, a grouse with feathered feet, found in northern regions.
USS Buttress (PCE-878/ACM-4) was an auxiliary minelayer (ACM) in the United States Navy during World War II. This ship and USS Monadnock (ACM-10) were the only ACMs not previously U.S. Army mineplanters.
USS Daring (AM-87) was an Adroit-class minesweeper of the United States Navy.
The first USS Dash (AM-88) was an Adroit class minesweeper of the United States Navy.
USS Facility (AM-233) was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II. The ship was ordered and laid down as PCE-905-class patrol craft USS PCE-906 but was renamed and reclassified before her June 1944 launch as Facility (AM-233). After earning three battle stars for service in the Pacific during World War II, she was decommissioned in September 1946 and placed in reserve. While in reserve, Facility was reclassified as MSF-233 in February 1955 but never reactivated. In October 1962, she was sold to the Mexican Navy and renamed ARM DM-04. Her ultimate fate is not reported in secondary sources; she may have been out of service by April 1973 when another member of the Admirable class was acquired by the Mexican Navy and given the name DM-04.
USS Compel (AM-162) was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was built to clear minefields in offshore waters, and served the Navy in the Pacific Ocean. Compel was awarded one battle star for World War II service.
USS Fixity (AM-235) was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II. The ship was ordered and laid down as PCE-905-class patrol craft USS PCE-908 but was renamed and reclassified before her December 1944 commissioning as Fixity (AM-235). She earned two battle stars in service in the Pacific during the war. She was decommissioned in November 1946 and placed in reserve. In January 1948, she was transferred to the United States Maritime Commission which sold her into merchant service in 1949. Operating as the Commercial Dixie, she sank in the Ohio River in the late 1990s.
USS Dipper (AM-357) was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II. The ship was ordered and laid down as PCE-905-class patrol craft USS PCE-917 but was renamed and reclassified before her July 1944 launch as Dipper (AM-357). Dipper was launched 26 July 1944 by Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon ; sponsored by Miss A. L. Gaffney; and commissioned 26 December 1945. Dipper sailed from Portland 11 January 1946 to join the U.S. 19th Fleet (Reserve) at San Diego, California, four days later. She provided various services for this group until placed out of commission in reserve 15 January 1947. She was reclassified MSF-357, 7 February 1955. Dipper was sold for scrap on 5 January 1961.
USS Gavia (AM-363) was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II. The ship was ordered and laid down as PCE-905-class patrol craft USS PCE-907 but was renamed and reclassified before her September 1943 launch as Gavia (AM-363). She earned two battle stars in service in the Pacific during World War II. In May 1946, she was turned over to the Republic of China for service with the Chinese Maritime Customs Service as Yung Chun. She was removed from service in June 1962.
USS Eucalyptus (YN-11/AN-16) was an Aloe-class net laying ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was launched in July 1941, and completed in October 1941. Placed in service at that time without being commissioned, she was commissioned in May 1942, and decommissioned in 1946. She was placed in reserve and later scrapped in 1976.
USS Fairview was a United States Navy PCE(R)-848-class Patrol Craft Escort (Rescue), in commission from April 1944 to May 1968. It was named after Fairview, New Jersey. The ship was present at the surrender of Japan in Tokyo Bay at the end of World War II.
ROKS Dangpo was a patrol craft of the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN). Originally built as USS PCE-842, a PCE-842-class patrol craft for the United States Navy during World War II. Dangpo was acquired by South Korea on 13 December 1961 and sunk by North Korean coastal artillery fire on 19 January 1967.
USS Havre was a United States Navy PCE-842-class patrol craft escort in commission from 14 February 1944 to 1 July 1970. She served in the Central Pacific during World War II, supporting invasions of Battle of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Okinawa, and was present in Tokyo Bay for the formal Surrender of Japan on 2 September 1945. Unlike other ships from this class, which were scrapped or sold to other nations, the vessel stayed the property of the United States Navy, which transferred ownership to the United States Navy Reserve as Naval Reserve Training Ship for 9th Naval District (Chicago) in April 1954. She was renamed USS Havre (PCE-877) on 15 February 1956 as part of a Navy-wide initiative to provide names to all numbered ships. Havre served on the Great Lakes until struck from Navy List on 1 July 1970.
USS Banning (PCE-886) was a PCE-842-class patrol craft for the United States Navy during World War II.
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