|
USS ''Swift'' (AM-122) was an acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing. The second U.S. Naval vessel to be so named, ''Swift'' was laid down on 27 June 1942 by John H. Mathis & Company, Camden, New Jersey. The ship launched on 5 December 1942, sponsored by Mrs. J. E. Sheedy, and commissioned on 29 December 1943, Lt. Comdr. R. K. Cockey, USNR, in command. ''Swift'' held her shakedown cruise at Little Creek, Virginia, and on 11 February 1944 entered the Norfolk, Virginia Navy Yard for alterations. ==Atlantic Ocean operations== Upon completion, ''Swift'' sailed to New York City to await the formation of a convoy. The convoy was formed and sailed, with ''Swift'' as escort, on 25 March for England. It arrived at Falmouth, England on 19 April, and ''Swift'' proceeded to Plymouth, England, where she reported to Naval Forces, Europe, for duty. She operated out of Plymouth and Torquay, England, until the end of May. As a unit of Mine Division (MinDiv) 18, ''Swift'' sailed from Torquay, on 5 June for Normandy, France, where she began sweeping mines off the Utah Beachhead. She swept mines from dawn to dusk and acted as "E-boat" patrol at night. On D + l (7 June) was mined and sunk while being towed by ''Swift''. ''Swift'' remained there until 17 June when she returned to Plymouth, England. Seven days later, she returned to France to aid in sweeping a lane for battleships so they could bombard Cherbourg and returned to England. ''Swift'' was next routed to Algeria and sailed from Plymouth on 1 August. She arrived at Oran on 6 August and was assigned to the invasion fleet for the assault on southern France, "Operation Dragoon". ''Swift'' sortied with the fleet on 10 August and was off the landing beaches in the early morning of D-Day, 15 August. She helped clear the transport area and swept lanes for landing craft. After the troops were ashore, the minesweeper remained on station, sweeping by day and performing antisubmarine and "E-boat" patrol by night. ''Swift'' escorted a convoy to Naples, Italy, on 16 October and returned to Golfe de Juan, France. She made daily sweeps up the French Riviera, past the German frontier, to the vicinity of San Remo. The minesweeper returned to Oran on 21 December and joined a convoy bound for the United States which sailed on 28 December 1944. ''Swift'' arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, in mid-January 1945 and entered the navy yard there for an overhaul in preparation for duty in the Pacific. The work was completed on 5 March and, after refresher training, she departed for Miami, Florida, with and . The minesweepers arrived there on 30 March and air-search radar was installed on ''Swift''. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「USS Swift (AM-122)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|