 Catbird underway in 1941 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USSCatbird |
| Builder | Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.,Charleston, South Carolina |
| Launched | as MVBittern, 1938 |
| Acquired | 12 August 1940 |
| Commissioned | 27 November 1940 |
| Decommissioned | 17 August 1944 |
| Out of service | 7 November 1945 |
| Renamed | USSCatbird, 14 August 1940 |
| Reclassified | IX-183, 15 August 1944 |
| Fate | Transferred to theMaritime Commission, 24 January 1947 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Catbird-classminesweeper |
| Displacement | 570 long tons (579 t) |
| Length | 147 ft 10 in (45.06 m) |
| Beam | 28 ft 8 in (8.74 m) |
| Draft | 12 ft (3.7 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 15knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Armament | 1 ×3"/23 caliber gun |
USSCatbird (AM-68) was thelead ship of her class of twonaval trawlers, which were operated as minesweepers by theUnited States Navy during World War II.
Built in 1938 byCharleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.,Charleston, South Carolina, as MVBittern, the ship was acquired by the U.S. Navy on 12 August 1940, and commissioned on 27 November 1940.
USSCatbird operated inNew England waters through 31 March 1941, engaged in tests and exercises. After overhaul atBrooklyn, New York, she sailed on 5 October forCristobal where she remained until 29 January 1944, on duty in the15th Naval District. Returning to the east coast she engaged in local operations atNorfolk, Virginia, until 16 April 1944 when she sailed toBoston, Massachusetts, arriving 19 April.
She was reclassified as Unclassified Miscellaneous Auxiliary IX-183 on 15 August 1944, and was placed out of commission in service 17 August 1944.
Catbird provided services out ofNew York until 23 May 1945, then operated inCape Cod waters until 3 June under direction of Naval Mine Testing Facilities.
Returning toNew York on 4 June, she was placed out of service and laid up 7 November 1945, and transferred to theMaritime Commission for disposal on 24 January 1947.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.