USS Merganser (AM-135)

The first USS Merganser (AM-135) was a minesweeper in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for the duck, merganser.

History
United States
NameAnnapolis
OwnerGeneral Sea Foods Corp., Boston, Massachusetts
BuilderBethlehem Steel, Quincy, Massachusetts
Launched1937
FateRequisitioned by the US Navy, 3 January 1942
United States
NameUSS Ocean
Acquired3 January 1942
Commissioned23 May 1942
Decommissioned1 May 1944
RenamedMerganser, 18 January 1942
Stricken16 September 1944
FateSold to former owner, renamed Ocean
General characteristics as Minesweeper
Class and typeHawk-class minesweeper
Displacement500 long tons (510 t)
Length133 ft 7 in (40.72 m)
Beam26 ft 1 in (7.95 m)
Draft12 ft 8 in (3.86 m)
Speed10 knots (12 mph; 19 km/h)
Armament

Originally the commercial trawler Annapolis, Merganser was built in 1937 by the Bethlehem Steel Corp., Quincy, Massachusetts; acquired by the U.S. Navy as Ocean through Maritime Commission requisition purchase from the General Sea Foods Corp., Boston, Massachusetts, 3 January 1942; renamed Merganser 18 January 1942; converted by Bethlehem Steel Atlantic Works, East Boston, Massachusetts; and commissioned 23 May 1942.

World War II East Coast Assignment

edit

Assigned to the 1st Naval District, Merganser operated from the Woods Hole Section Base, patrolling the waters off New England, until February 1944.

Deactivation

edit

She then proceeded to Boston, Massachusetts, for inactivation, decommissioning there 1 May. She was struck from the Naval Register 16 September, and on the 29th transferred to the Maritime Commission. She was subsequently sold to her former owner and renamed Ocean.

References

edit