USS Linnet (AM-76)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Linnet.
History
United States
NameUSS Linnet
BuilderBath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
Laid down18 June 1928
Launched15 December 1928, as MV Georgetown
Acquired4 September 1940
Commissioned3 March 1941, as USS Linnet (AM-76)
Decommissioned18 December 1944
RenamedLinnet, 14 August 1940
ReclassifiedUnclassified Miscellaneous Auxiliary, IX-166, 20 April 1944
FateReturned to the War Shipping Administration, 31 July 1945
General characteristics
Displacement410 long tons (417 t)
Length123 ft 10 in (37.74 m)
Beam23 ft (7.0 m)
Draft12 ft (3.7 m)
Propulsion
Speed10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Armament

USS Linnet (AM-76), was a minesweeper of the United States Navy during World War II.

The vessel was laid down on 18 June 1928 and built as the trawler Georgetown by the Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, in 1928 as third, yard number 121 and U.S. official number 228098, of three trawlers for F. J. O'Hara & Sons of Boston. Launching was on 15 December 1928 with delivey on 19 December 1928.[1][2] The trawler was registered at 229 GRT with call sign MHCW, length of 114.7 ft (35.0 m) between perpendiculars of 400 h.p. with a crew of 19 designated as engaged in cod and mackerel fishing, owner Trawler Georgetown (Mass.).[3]

During a blizzard in 1934 Georgetown sent a distress message from some 200 miles offshore. The USCGC Ossipee located the trawler and towed it to port.[4]

The trawler was acquired by the U.S. Navy on 4 September 1940 with conversion to a minesweeper begun in September 1940 at the Bethlehem Steel Co. of East Boston, Massachusetts.[note 1] Commissioned as USS Linnet (AM-76) on 3 March 1941, conversion was completed in March 1941.[1]

World War II operations

Assigned to the Mine Warfare School, Yorktown, Virginia, Linnet engaged in experiments and training in the intricacies of mine operations. Upon completion of training in the spring 1942, the minesweeper sailed to join Fleet operations in the South Atlantic.[1]

Based at Recife, Brazil, Linnet played an important role in harbor clearing operations to permit the free movement of ships from that port. She regained in Brazilian waters until 22 February 1944, when she sailed for Norfolk, Virginia, arriving there 17 March. Linnet was reclassified IX-168 on 20 April for possible use as a small cargo ship.[1]

End-of-War deactivation

Plans were changed, however, and she was decommissioned on 18 December 1944 at Boston, Massachusetts. The War Shipping Administration (WSA) was advertising the vessel for sale by 9 July 1945 as Georgetown located at Quincy, Massachusetts with the vessel returned by the Navy to WSA on 31 July 1945.[1][5] The reconverted vessel was renamed Cambridge. The vessel was out of documentation in 1977.[6]

Footnotes

  1. ^ The photo of Georgetown as minesweeper at NavSource shows configuration as the other two, USS Gull (AM-74) and USS Kite (AM-75).

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Naval History And Heritage Command (July 29, 2015). "Linnet II (AM-76)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History And Heritage Command. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  2. ^ "Bath Iron Works". ShipbuildingHistory. May 15, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  3. ^ Merchant Vessels of the United States (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Department of Commerce, Bureau of Navigation. 1930. pp. 330–331. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  4. ^ "New York and Surrounding Areas Digging From Heaviest Storm in Years", Virginian-Pilot and the Norfolk Landmark, 178, Norfolk, VA: 1, 22 February 1934, retrieved March 16, 2026
  5. ^ "Legal Notice", Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, 178, Norfolk, VA: 9 (Legals, Col 5), 9 July 1945, retrieved March 16, 2026
  6. ^ "Linnet (IX-166) ex-AM-76". NavSource Online. 2026. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
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