USS Swerve (AM-121)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Swerve.
USS Swerve
History
United States
Name: USS Swerve
Builder: John H. Mathis & Company, Camden, New Jersey
Laid down: 27 May 1942
Launched: 25 February 1943
Sponsored by: Ms. E. C. Draemel
Commissioned: 23 January 1944
Struck: 22 August 1944
Motto: We Should Have Swerved
Honors and
awards:		 1 Battle Star (World War II)
Fate: Sunk by striking a mine, 9 July 1944
General characteristics
Class and type: Auk-class minesweeper
Displacement: 890 long tons (900 t)
Length: 221 ft 3 in (67.44 m)
Beam: 32 ft (9.8 m)
Draft: 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)
Speed: 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h)
Complement: 105 officers and enlisted
Armament: 1 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 cal dual purpose gun, 2 × 40 mm anti-aircraft guns

USS Swerve (AM-121) was an Auk-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.

Swerve was the first U.S. Navy vessel so named. It was laid down on 27 May 1942 by John H. Mathis & Company, Camden, New Jersey; launched on 25 February 1943; sponsored by Ms. E. C. Draemel; and commissioned on 23 January 1944, Lieutenant A. Morthland, USNR, in command.

Swerve held sea trials from 1–14 February and sailed for Little Creek, Virginia, on the 15th to begin her shakedown cruise. Most of March was spent in a post-shakedown availability and in training.

World War II

On 29 March, as a member of Mine Division 18 (MinDiv 18), she sailed to Charleston, South Carolina. Swerve stood out of Charleston on 7 April as an escort for convoy CK-2 en route to Bermuda. The convoy arrived there on the 18th, and on 8 May sailed to the Azores. Swerve called at Gibraltar and proceeded to Naples, Italy.

Italian coast minesweeping operations

The minesweeper sailed for Palermo, Sicily on 20 May and arrived there the next day. She made a voyage to Bizerte and returned to Naples. The ship sailed for Anzio on 4 June, and arrived off the beach the next day.

Swerve remained off Anzio from 5–18 June. The ship was under enemy air attacks on the 5th and 9th but was not damaged. On the 19th, she sailed to Malta — via Naples — for degaussing. Training exercises were held off Salerno from 22 June-4 July. The next day, the minesweeper sailed for Anzio again.

Ship sunk by contact with a mine in the water

Swerve was sweeping mines off Anzio on 9 July when, at 13:00, she struck a mine. There was an underwater explosion under her port quarter, and three minutes later, she had a 10° list to port. The order was given to abandon ship at 13:07, and — one minute later — the port rail was under water. The ship continued turning slowly and sinking by the stern. Fifteen minutes after hitting the mine, Swerve's bow was up with the stern resting on the bottom. An hour later, the ship sank from sight.

Swerve was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 22 August 1944.

Awards

Swerve received one battle star for her World War II service.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

Coordinates: 41°31′N 12°28′E / 41.517°N 12.467°E / 41.517; 12.467

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