USS Spectacle (AM-305)

Last updated
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Spectacle
BuilderAssociated Shipbuilders
Laid down24 May 1943
Launched1 October 1943
Commissioned11 June 1944
Decommissioned19 October 1945
StrickenDecember 1945
FateSold for scrap in April 1947
General characteristics
Class and type Admirable-class minesweeper
Displacement
  • 650 tons
  • 945 tons (full load)
Length184 ft 6 in (56.24 m)
Beam33 ft (10 m)
Draft9 ft 9 in (2.97 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 × 1,710 shp Cooper Bessemer GSB-8 diesel engines
  • National Supply Co. single reduction gear
  • 2 shafts
Speed14.8 knots (27.4 km/h)
Complement104
Armament
Service record
Part of: US Pacific Fleet (1944-1945)
Operations:
Awards: 2 Battle stars

USS Spectacle (AM-305) was a steel-hulled Admirable class minesweeper built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. A trained crew boarded the new vessel, practiced with her minesweeping gear, and then proceeded to the Pacific Ocean to clear mines from Japanese beaches so that Allied forces could invade. While performing this dangerous task of mine clearance, a Japanese plane strafed her, and another deliberately crashed into her. When she returned to the United States, her battle damage was so severe that the U.S. Navy decided to scrap, rather than to repair, her. She was awarded two battle stars.

Contents

Spectacle was laid down on 24 May 1943 by Associated Shipbuilders, Seattle, Washington; launched on 10 October 1943; and, commissioned on 11 August 1944.

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

After fitting out at Puget Sound and conducting trial runs at Seattle, Washington, Spectacle sailed on the 31st for San Pedro, California. Following her shakedown training, held from 5 to 24 September, she moved to the West Coast Sonar School, San Diego, California, for equipment testing and antisubmarine warfare training that lasted until 27 October. The ship got underway for Hawaii the next day and arrived at Pearl Harbor on 5 November.

The following week, Spectacle sailed in the screen of a convoy and arrived at San Francisco, California, on 20 November. On the 27th, she and USS Design (AM-219) departed Seattle, Washington, and headed back toward Pearl Harbor. From 9 December 1944 to 21 January 1945, the minesweeper conducted extensive minesweeping and training exercises with fleet units in Hawaiian waters.

Invasion of Iwo Jima operations

On 22 January, Spectacle sortied with Task Group (TG) 51.13, Tractor Group Baker, part of the Iwo Jima assault force as part of the Battle of Iwo Jima. After staging at Eniwetok, Marshall Islands, and Saipan, Mariana Islands, the group arrived off Iwo Jima. Spectacle began sweeping mines on 16 February and remained in waters near Iwo Jima until 7 March. She swept mines; acted as an escort and patrol ship; and, on several occasions, bombarded enemy targets ashore. On 7 March, Spectacle, accompanied by USS Scurry (AM-304), withdrew to Ulithi for replenishment and repair.

Invasion of Okinawa operations

Spectacle sailed from Ulithi on 19 March with TG 52.4, composed of Minesweeper Group One, for Okinawa to sweep mines from waters near that island for the forthcoming amphibious assault which was scheduled to begin on 1 April as part of the Battle of Okinawa. She started minesweeping and patrol duties at Okinawa on 25 March. On 28 April, her whaleboat rescued 14 survivors from USS Pinkney (APH-2) which had been hit by a kamikaze.

Under Constant Attack and hit by a Kamikaze

On 4 May, the minesweeper sank two small Japanese boats and set one afire with gunfire. That evening, she was strafed by an enemy plane. She sank another small boat on 13 May; and, the next evening, she sank five small suicide boats. Spectacle took patrol station near Ie Shima on 22 May and, early that morning, splashed a "Betty". At 0805, a diving kamikaze crashed into the minesweeper, striking the ship under her port 40-millimeter gun tub, causing extensive damage and blowing many of her crew overboard. Her rudder jammed. She dropped anchor to avoid running over her men in the water. At 0815, USS LSM-135 began picking up survivors; but, 15 minutes later, the medium landing ship was also hit by a kamikaze and burst into flames. Spectacle's losses were: 11 killed outright, four who died of wounds, six wounded, and 14 missing in action.

Returning Stateside in a Damaged Condition

The ship was towed to Ie Shima by USS Tekesta (ATF-93). Under power from her starboard engine, she proceeded on the 26th, to Kerama Retto, where she was temporarily repaired by auxiliary repair dock USS ARD-1 (no name). She sailed for Saipan on 14 June, departed that island on the 26th, and headed via Pearl Harbor for the west coast.

Spectacle arrived at Seattle, Washington, on 1 August and, the next day, moved to the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company's dock for battle damage repairs; but no work was begun. On 5 September, the Pacific Board of Inspection and Survey recommended that she be scrapped and sold. Between 6 September and 18 October, all of her material and equipment was removed and, on the 19th, the ship was decommissioned.

Spectacle was struck from the Navy list on 5 December 1945 and sold to Northwest Merchandising Service in April 1947 for scrap.

Awards

Spectacle received two battle stars for World War II service.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Newcomb</i> Fletcher-class destroyer

USS Newcomb (DD-586) was a Fletcher-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the only ship named for Commodore Frank H. Newcomb of the United States Revenue Cutter Service, Congressional Gold Medal recipient from the Spanish–American War.

USS <i>Leutze</i> Fletcher-class destroyer

USS Leutze (DD-481) was a Fletcher-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Admiral Eugene H. C. Leutze (1847–1931).

USS <i>Revenge</i> (AM-110) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Revenge (AM-110) was a World War II-era Auk-class minesweeper in the service of the United States Navy. It was the sixth United States vessel named Revenge.

USS <i>Dorsey</i> (DD-117) Wickes-class destroyer

USS Dorsey (DD–117), reclassified DMS-1 on 19 November 1940, was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I. She was named for John Dorsey.

USS <i>Devastator</i> (AM-318) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Devastator (AM-318) was an Auk-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing naval mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.

USS <i>Halligan</i> Fletcher-class destroyer

USS Halligan (DD-584) was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Rear Admiral John Halligan, Jr. (1876–1934).

USS <i>Defense</i> (AM-317) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Defense (AM-317) 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.

USS <i>Shannon</i> Robert H. Smith-class destroyer minelayer

USS Shannon (DD-737/DM-25/MMD-25) was a Robert H. Smith-class destroyer minelayer in the United States Navy.

USS <i>Shelter</i> (AM-301) Admirable-class minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Shelter (AM-301) was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II. After service in the Pacific during World War II, Shelter was decommissioned in June 1946 and placed in reserve. In January 1964, she was transferred to South Vietnam for service in the Republic of Vietnam Navy as RVNS Chi Linh (HQ-11). She remained in South Vietnamese service until the collapse of that country in 1975. Chi Linh was one of several ships that fled from South Vietnam to the Philippines. She was then commissioned into the Philippine Navy in April 1976 as RPS Datu Tupas (PS-18), named after a chieftain of Cebu. The ship's fate is not reported in secondary sources.

USS Motive (AM-102) was an Auk-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II. She earned three battle stars for World War II service. She was decommissioned in 1946 and placed in reserve where she remained until struck from the Naval Vessel Register in December 1966. She was sunk as a target in April 1968.

USS <i>Ardent</i> (AM-340) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

The second USS Ardent (AM-340) was a Auk-class minesweeper in the United States Navy.

USS <i>Champion</i> (AM-314) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

The third USS Champion (BAM-1/AM-314/MSF-314) was an Auk-class minesweeper of the United States Navy.

USS Success (AM-310) was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was awarded four battle stars for service in the Pacific during World War II. She was decommissioned in July 1946 and placed in reserve. While she remained in reserve, Success was reclassified as MSF-310 in February 1955 but never reactivated. In October 1962, she was sold to the Mexican Navy and renamed ARM DM-08. Although she is reported out of service, her ultimate fate is not reported in secondary sources.

USS <i>Strength</i> (AM-309) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Strength (AM-309) was a metal-hulled Admirable-class minesweeper built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She received training in the United States before being sent directly to the Pacific Ocean to clear minefields so that Allied forces could proceed to beaches held by forces of the Empire of Japan. While performing this dangerous task, she was also attacked by Japanese planes and narrowly avoided being torpedoed. For her courageous actions in the war zone, she was awarded three battle stars.

USS Staunch (AM-307) was a steel-hulled Admirable-class minesweeper built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her crew was quickly trained in the art of minesweeping and then sent to the Pacific Ocean to clear dangerous mine fields so that Allied troops could land on Japanese-held beaches. Because of her courageous work under fire, she was awarded four battle stars.

USS Specter (AM-306) was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was originally ordered, laid down, and launched as USS Spector (AM-306), but was renamed the correctly spelled Specter in March 1944. She was awarded four battle stars for service in the Pacific during World War II. She was decommissioned in 1946 and placed in reserve. While she remained in reserve, Specter was reclassified as MSF-306 in February 1955 but never reactivated. In April 1973, she was sold to the Mexican Navy and renamed ARM DM-04. In 1994 she was renamed ARM General Manuel E. Rincón (C52). She was stricken in July 2001, but her ultimate fate is not reported in secondary sources.

USS <i>Fleming</i> (DE-32)

The second USS Fleming (DE-32), and first ship of the name to enter service, was an Evarts-class destroyer escort built for the United States Navy during World War II. While performing convoy and escort duty in the Pacific Ocean she was also able to sink one Japanese submarine and to shoot down several kamikaze planes that intended to crash onto her. For her military prowess under battle conditions, she was awarded four battle stars.

USS <i>Rall</i>

USS Rall (DE-304) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy during World War II. She was sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. She performed escort and anti-submarine operations in dangerous battle areas and returned home with three battle stars.

USS Counsel (AM-165) 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.

USS Signet (AM-302) was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II. She received four battle stars during World War II. She was decommissioned in December 1945 and placed in reserve. In February 1955, while still in reserve, her hull number was changed from AM-302 to MSF-302, but she was not reactivated. She was transferred to the Dominican Republic in January 1965 and renamed Tortuguero (BM455). She was employed as a patrol vessel in Dominican Navy service. Her pennant number was changed from BM455 to C455 in 1995. Tortuguero was stricken and hulked in 1997.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.