USSBobolink(AM-20/AT-131/ATO-131)was aLapwing-classminesweeperacquired by theUnited States Navyfor the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USSBobolink |
| Builder | Baltimore Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company,Baltimore,Maryland |
| Cost | $761,959 (hull & machinery)[1] |
| Launched | 15 June 1918 |
| Commissioned | 28 January 1919, as Minesweeper No.20 |
| Decommissioned | 22 February 1946 |
| Reclassified |
|
| Honours and awards | 1battle star(World War II) |
| Fate | Sold, 5 October 1946 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Lapwing-classminesweeper |
| Displacement | 950 long tons (965 t) |
| Length | 187 ft 10 in (57.25 m) |
| Beam | 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) |
| Draft | 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) |
| Speed | 14knots(26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Complement | 72 |
| Armament | 2 ×3 in (76 mm)guns |
Bobolinkwas launched on 15 June 1918 byBaltimore Dry Dock and ShipbuildingCompany, inBaltimore,Maryland; sponsored by Miss Elsie Jean Willis; and commissioned 28 January 1919, with LieutenantFrank Brucein command.
World War I minefield clearance
editBobolinkdepartedNorfolk, Virginiain April 1919 to join Division 2,North SeaMinesweeping Detachment, atKirkwall,Orkney Islands.While sweeping in theNorth Seaon 14 May 1919, a mine exploded close by, causing considerable damage to the stern and killingBruce, Frank M., LT.USSBruce(DD-329)was named after Lt. Bruce. Her repairs at theDevonport Dockyard,England, took six months.
In January 1920 she returned to Norfolk. En route she came to the aid of USSOphiroffBermuda.BobolinktowedOphiruntil a storm broke the tow rope about 100 nautical miles (190 km) offCape Henry.[2]
Postwar operations
editBetween 1920 and 1931,Bobolinkserved with the Fleet Base Force, Scouting Fleet, on theEast Coast of the United Statesand took part in fleet problems, concentrations, and jointArmy-Navy maneuvers. On 3 March 1932, she arrived on theWest Coast of the United Statesand was thereafter based at San Diego. She operated along the western seaboard between San Francisco andSan Quentin Bay,Mexico, with the Fleet Train and variousdestroyerdivisions. In 1935, she took part in the annual exercises and fleet problems held off Hawaii. Between January and March 1939, she participated in fleet problems in theCaribbeanand then returned to San Diego, arriving there on 13 May 1939.
World War II operations
editIn September 1940,Bobolinkjoined the Train, Base Force, United States Fleet, atPearl Harbor.She remained there until September 1942.Bobolinkwas present during theJapaneseattack on Pearl Harboron 7 December 1941, laying in dock next to six destroyers near the district HQ. Following the attack, she served as a salvage vessel and minesweeper. Between 20 May and 2 July 1942, she was converted to an ocean-going tug (redesignatedAT-131on 1 June 1942). Remaining at Pearl Harbor until September 1942,Bobolinkthen steamed to theSouth Pacificand operated out offGuadalcanal,Solomon Islands;Espiritu Santo,New Hebrides;andNoumea,New Caledonia,as a tug until February 1944. In particular, she helped rescue survivors and assisted several crippled U.S.warshipsin the aftermath of theNaval Battle of Guadalcanal.She arrived atLong Beach, California,4 March 1944 for overhaul and returned to Pearl Harbor on 29 June 1944.Bobolinkwas reclassifiedATO-131on 15 May 1944.
Decommissioning
editShe served in Hawaiian waters until the fall of 1945, and then returned toMare Island Navy Yard,where she was decommissioned 22 February 1946. She was sold through theMaritime Commission5 October 1946.
Bobolinkreceived onebattle starfor operations duringWorld War II.
References
edit
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.The entry can be foundhere.
- ^"Table 21 - Ships on Navy List June 30, 1919".Congressional Serial Set.U.S. Government Printing Office: 762. 1921.
- ^Baker, Paul (16 September 2019)."USS Ophir – The Burning Question".Gibraltar Insight.Retrieved29 May2023.
External links
edit- Photo galleryof USSBobolinkat NavSource Naval History
- hazegray.org: USSBobolink
- First-hand account ofBobolink's North Sea minesweeping operations available in theRobert R. Longwell Papers, 1911-1920 (bulk 1917-1920), MS 533held by Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library at the United States Naval Academy