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U.S.S. Minivet - AM 371 - Mine Sweeper |
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November |
Hotel |
Zulu |
Victor |
U.S.S. Minivet's Call sign: November - Hotel - Zulu - Victor |
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Sunk 29 December 1945 |
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The U.S.S. Minivet was laid down July 19, 1944 by Savannah Machine and Foundry Co. of Savannah, GA. It was launched on November 8, 1944, and was sponsored
by Miss Henrietta G. Jerrell. It was commissioned on May 29, 1945 by Lt. Comdr.
Richard Lagreze, who was in command.The Minivet concluded shakedown training
at Little Creek, VA, and on August 22, steamed out of Norfolk, en route to assignment
in the Far East. She arrived at Sasebo, Japan on October 30 with Mine Division 23
to play her part in opening the sealanes to peacetime commerce. |
During her first month in the area, escort trips to Pusan, Korea, and from Okinawa
left little time to stream her minesweeping gear. After a brief availability period,
AM-371 departed Sasebo on December 23 in company with eight Japanese
vessels
to complete the sweeping of the Tsushima Straits. Following in the
wake
of the
second pass of the day on December 29, she struck a mine
and in a matter of
minutes, rolled over and sank. Despite the discipline and courageous action of
her crew and the bravery of American and Japanese rescuers, the Minivet
suffered the loss of 31 men. She became the first American minesweeper
lost during these hazardous operations that had destroyed 20,000 mines since
the
end of the war. Her name was stricken from the Navy list on January 21, 1946,
after the logbook and the last of the survivors returned to the United States. |
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U.S.S. Minivet Known Living Survivors List - Click Here |
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U.S.S. Minivet "Survivors we are Searching for" List - Click Here
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Click control bar to turn music ON or OFF
Played by the U.S. Navy Marching Band! |
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Here are many photos from past Reunions! |
Reunion in Savannah, GA in 1995 - (click on photo to enlarge)
Reunion in Gettysburg, PA in 1999 - (click on photo to enlarge)
Reunion in Houston, TX in 2001 - (click on photo to enlarge)
Reunion in Frederick, MD in 2000 - (click on photo to enlarge)
The 2002 reunion in Richmond, VA. - (click on photo to enlarge)
U.S.S. Redstart and Minivet Sailors - Richmond 2002 - (click on photo to enlarge)
U.S.S. Minivet Sailors - Richmond 2002 - (click on photo to enlarge)
Members of U.S.S. Minivet and U.S.S. Redstart - 2006 Gatlingsburg Reunion
(click on photo to enlarge)
Here are many Pacific-Theater photos! |
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