Home

Other
Minesweepers

Other Military
Ships

How to
Order

Refund

Policy

Contact
Us

-

-

Photography by Action Asia Photo
© 2002-8 Action Asia Photo - All Rights Reserved
www.actionasiaphoto.com

-

-
-

Preceded by the smaller 188-foot long vessels of the Lapwing Class, the Raven Class was laid down in 1939 to produce a more capable ocean minesweeper by lengthening the hull to 220 feet. Only two hulls were laid down (AM-55 Raven and AM-56 Osprey) when it was decided to further lengthen the hull 11 inches more in following ships - which became the Auk Class. However, the ships of the two classes are so similar that often they are collectively referred to as the "Raven-Auk Class" and we present them together here.

Besides the two Raven Class ships, a total of 93 Auk Class minesweepers were built in the States during World War II.

Thirty-two of the Auk Class vessels were supposed to be transferred to Great Britain under Lend Lease and were originally designated BAM-1 to BAM-32. These 32 ships did not have USN names or hull numbers, but when 13 of the BAM vessels were retained for service with the USN, they were then reassigned USN names and hull numbers - leaving only 19 of the BAM ships to be transferred. Later, three further USN minesweepers (already designated with USN names and hull numbers) were additionally transferred to make the British complement of Auk Class ships 22 in all. All the ships transferred to Britain were designed for the same mission as their U.S. Navy counterparts. Three were sunk in action and 19 returned to the United States after the war - some then given to Turkey where they served further.

A further nine Auk Class minesweepers serving with the United State Navy were also lost in action: 4 in the Italian Campaign, 2 during Normandy, and 3 in the Pacific. In 1955 surviving ships were designated MSF (Fleet Minesweeper).

As a tribute to their design, 36 went on to serve during the Korean War. Five were converted to oceanographic survey ships which served into the late 1960s. Two served in the Vietnam theater. Two other ships were converted to Coastal Minesweepers and then transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy. AM-383 USS Surfbird was converted to a degaussing ship in 1957 and served until December 1970 as ADG-383. She was the last of the class in service with the United States Navy.

Many other ships went on to serve as minesweepers with the navies of  Mexico, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey. AM-104 USS Pilot (sold to Mexico in February 1973) was the last ship of the Auk class in naval service, operating as a Patrol Craft renamed C-85 Juan Aldarma.

AM-101 "USS Herald"

Commissioned March 23, 1943 Herald started her war career supporting the unopposed landing on Kiska Island in the Aleutians in August. That winter storm damage forced her to return to Seattle for repairs. In early 1944 she sailed to Pearl and supported convoys to the Marshalls and in May the invasion of the Marianas. In following months Herald did vital convoy work including patrolling and minesweeping. At  war's end, the minesweeper took part in the giant sweeping operations of the former Japanese islands.

Decommissioned in 1946, Herald was recommissioned in 1952 and made two Mediterranean cruises. Decommissioned again in 1955 she is berthed at Orange, Texas with the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.

Raven and Auk Class Minesweepers A total of 2 Raven Class and 93 Auk Class ships were built
Hull - Ship Name	Commissioned	Fate: ( = lost)
AM-55 Raven (Raven Class)	11-11-1940	Stricken May 1967, sunk as target off southern coast of California.
AM-56 Osprey (Raven Class)	12-16-1940	Struck mine while en-route to Normandy June 5th,1944.
AM-57 Auk (rest are all Auk Class)	01-15-1942	Stricken August 1956, no record of disposal.
AM-58 Broadbill	10-13-1942	Sold for scrap December 1973.
AM-59 Chickadee	11-09-1942	Decommissioned at Astoria Oregon, May 1946.
AM-60 Nuthatch	11-19-1942	Sunk as target of Pacific Fleet after stricken, December 1966.
AM-61 Pheasant	12-12-1942	Sunk as target after stricken, December 1966.
AM-62 Sheldrake	10-14-1942	Converted to oceanographic survey ship in 1952, sold for scrap, 1971.
AM-63 Skylark	11-25-1942	Sunk by mine off Okinawa April 28th, 1945 (5 lost).
AM-64 Starling	12-21-1942	Sold to Mexico 1973, renamed Valentin Gomez Farias (G-11 ).
AM-65 Swallow	01-14-1943	Sunk by Japanese kamikaze off Okinawa April 22nd, 1945.
AM-66 to AM-99   -  other Classes of Minesweepers
AM-100 Heed	02-27-1943	Stricken March 1967.
AM-101 Herald	03-23-1943	Stricken July 1972, sold to Mexico 1973, renamed Mariano Matamoros.
AM-102 Motive	04-17-1943	Stricken December 1966, destroyed as target by the Pacific Fleet in 1968.
AM-103 Oracle	05-14-1943	Stricken December 1966, used as a target for the Pacific Fleet in 1967.
AM-104 Pilot	02-03-1943	Sold to Mexico 1973, renamed Juan Aldarma (C-85).
AM-105 Pioneer	02-27-1943	Sold to Mexico 1973, renamed Leandro Valle.
AM-106 Portent	04-03-1943	Struck a mine near the Italian coast and sank January 22nd, 1944.
AM-107 Prevail	04-17-1943	Converted to survey ship (AGS-20) in 1952, sold for scrap 1964.
AM-108 Pursuit	04-30-1943	Converted to survey ship (AGS-17) in 1951, stricken July 1960.
AM-109 Requisite	06-07-1943	Converted to survey ship (AGS-18) in 1951, stricken April 1964.
AM-110 Revenge	07-21-1943	Sold for scrap May 1967.
AM-111 Sage	08-23-1943	Sold to Mexico 1973, renamed Hermenegildo Galeana (G-19).
AM-112 Seer	10-21-1942	Transferred to Norway 1962 as Coastal Minesweeper, renamed Uller.
AM-113 Sentinel	11-03-1942	Sunk by German aircraft off Sicily July 10th,1943.
AM-114 Staff	11-01-1942	Sold for scrap1967.
AM-115 Skill	11-17-1942	Sunk (likely by submarine) on September 25th, 1943 off Salerno, Italy.
AM-116 Speed	10-15-1942	Transferred to S. Korea 1967, renamed Sunchon (PCE-1002).
AM-117 Drive	10-27-1942	Transferred to Norway 1959 as Coastal Minesweeper, renamed Gor.
AM-118 Steady	11-16-1942	Sold to Taiwan 1967, renamed Mo Ling (PCE-70).
AM-119 Sustain	11-09-1942	Sold to Norway1959.
AM-120 Sway	07-20-1943	Sold to Mexico 1973, renamed Ignaio Altamurano (G-12).
AM-121 Swerve	01-23-1944	Struck a mine and sank off Anzio, Italy on July 9th, 1944.
AM-122 Swift	12-29-1943	Stricken 1972.
AM-123 Symbol	12-10-1942	Sold to Mexico 1972, renamed Guillermo Prieto (G-02).
AM-124 Threat	03-14-1943	Stricken 1972.
AM-125 Tide	05-09-1943	Sunk off coast of France after striking mine on June 7th, 1944.
AM-126 Token	12-21-1942	Stricken 1966.
AM-127 Tumult	02-27-1943	Stricken 1967.
AM-128 Velocity	04-04-1943	Sold to Mexico 1972, renamed Ignacio L. Vallarta (G-14).
AM-129 Vital	To RN 1943, renamed Strenuous J338, returned 1946, sold 1948 renamed Evening Star
AM-130 Usage	To RN 1943, renamed Tourmaline J339, returned 1947, sold to Turkey Cardak (M507).
AM-131 Zeal	07-09-1943	Sunk as a target 1967.
AM-132 to AM-313   -  other Classes of Minesweepers
AM-314 Champion (ex-BAM-1)	09-08-1943	To Mexico 1972, renamed Mariano Escobar (P-103).
AM-315 Chief (ex-BAM-2)	10-09-1943	To Mexico 1972, renamed Jesus Gonzalez Ortega (C-83).
AM-316 Competent (ex-BAM-3)	11-10-1943	To Mexico 1972, renamed Ponciano Arriaga.
AM-317 Defense (ex-BAM-4)	01-10-1944	To Mexico 1973, renamed Manuel Doblado (C-73), reclassified P-104.
AM-318 Devastator (ex-BAM-5)	01-12-1944	To Mexico 1973, renamed Sabastian Lerdo de Tejada (C-74).
AM-319 Gladiator (ex-BAM-6)	02-23-1944	To Mexico 1972, renamed Santos Degollado (G-07), reclassified P-106.
AM-320 Impeccable (ex-BAM-7)	04-29-1944	1955 reclassified MSF-320, scrapped 1974.
AM-321 Overseer (ex-BAM-16)	To RN 1943, renamed Elfreda J402, returned 1947, sold to Turkey 1947 Cesme (M505).
AM-322 Spear (ex-BAM-22)	12-31-1943	1955 reclassified MSF-322, to Mexico1972 Ignacio De La Llave (G-08).
AM-323 Triumph (ex-BAM-23)	02-03-1944	1959 reclassified MMC-3, 1961 to Norway, renamed Brage (N-49).
AM-324 Vigilance (ex-BAM-24)	02-28-1944	To Philippines 1967, renamed Quezon (PS-70).
AM-325 to AM-339   -  other Classes of Minesweepers
AM-340 Ardent (ex-BAM-8)	05-25-1944	Sold to Mexico 1972, renamed Juan N. Alvarez (P-108).
AM-341 Dextrous (ex-BAM-30)	09-08-1943	In reserve 1946, to South Korea 1967 as Koje (PCE 1003).
AM-342 to AM-370   -  other Classes of Minesweepers
AM-371 Miniver	05-29-1945	Struck mine in Tsushima Straits / sank December 29th, 1945 (31 killed).
AM-372 Murrelet	08-21-1945	Sold to Philippines 1965, renamed Rizal (PCE-69).
AM-373 Peregrine	09-27-1945	Stricken 1969.
AM-374 Pigeon	10-30-1945	Stricken 1966 and sold for scrap.
AM-375 Pochard	11-27-1944	Stricken 1966 and sold for scrap.
AM-376 Ptarmigan	01-15-1945	Sold to South Korea 1963.
AM-377 Quail	03-05-1945	Stricken 1966 and sold for scrap.
AM-378 Redstart	04-04-1945	Sold to Taiwan 1963, renamed Wu Sheng.
AM-379 Roselle	02-06-1945	Sold to Mexico 1973, renamed Melchor Ocampo.
AM-380 Ruddy	04-28-1945	Sold to Peru 1960, renamed Galvez.
AM-381 Scoter	03-17-1945	Sold to Mexico 1972, renamed Manuel Gutierrez Zamora (G-10).
AM-382 Shoveler	05-22-1945	Sold to Peru 1960, renamed Diez Canseco (MSF-69).
AM-383 Surfbird	11-25-1944	Converted to degaussing ship 1957, sold 1976, renamed Helenka B.
AM-384 Sprig	04-04-1945	Sold for scrap1973.
AM-385 Tanager	07-28-1945	To USCG 1963, decommissioned February 1972 and sold 1972.
AM-386 Tercel	08-21-1945	Stricken 1972.
AM-387 Toucan	11-25-1944	Sold to Taiwan 1964.
AM-388 Towhee	05-18-1945	Converted to survey ship (AGS-28) in 1964, scrapped 1970.
AM-389 Waxwing	08-06-1945	Sold to Taiwan 1965, renamed Chu Yang (PCE-67).
AM-390 Wheatear	10-03-1945	Sold for scrap 1973.
BAM-9   > HMS Catherine J12	Transferred to RN July 1943, returned 1946, sold to Turkey 1947, renamed Erdemli.
BAM-10 > HMS Cato J16	Transferred July 1943, sunk Normandy July 6, 1944 by a German 'Neger' human torpedo
BAM-11 > HMS Pique J23	Transferred Aug 1943, returned 1946, fate unknown.
BAM-12 > HMS Chamois J28	Transferred Oct 1943, hit mine, returned 1946, sold 1948, renamed Morning Star.
BAM-13 > HMS Chance J340	Transferred Nov 1943, returned 1946, sold to Turkey 1947, renamed Edremit.
BAM-14 > HMS Combatant J341	Transferred Nov 1943, returned 1946, scrapped 1947.
BAM-15 > HMS Cynthia J345	Transferred Dec 1943, returned 1947, scrapped 1947.
BAM-17 > HMS Gazelle J342	Transferred July 1943, returned 1946, fate unknown.
BAM-18 > HMS Gorgon J346	Transferred Aug 1943, returned 1946, fate unknown.
BAM-19 > HMS Grecian J352	Transferred Sep 1943, returned 1946, to Turkey 1947, renamed Edineik (M509).
BAM-20 > HMS Magic J400	Transferred Oct 1943, sunk Normandy July 6, 1944 by a German 'Neger' human torpedo
BAM-21 > HMS Pylades J401	Transferred Nov 1943, sunk July 6, 1944 off Normandy by a German midget submarine.
BAM-25 > HMS Fairy J403	Transferred Mar 1943, returned 1946, scrapped 1947.
BAM-26 > HMS Floriziel J404	Transferred Apr 1943, returned 1946, sold 1946, renamed Aida, fate unknown.
BAM-27 > HMS Foam J405	Transferred Apr1944, returned 1946, scrapped 1947.
BAM-28 > HMS Frolic J406	Transferred Jun 1944, returned 1947, to Turkey 1947, renamed Candarli.
BAM-29 > HMS Jasper J407	Transferred Aug 1944, returned 1946, sold 1946, renamed Pandelis, fate unknown.
BAM-31 > HMS Steadfast J375	Transferred Sep 1943, returned 1946, to Turkey 1947, renamed Eregli.
BAM-32 > HMS Tattoo J374	Transferred Oct 1943, returned 1947, to Turkey 1947, renamed Carsamba.

© 2002-8 All Wood Wings - All Rights Reserved