Friday, June 10, 2011

USS Salute (AM-294)-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Like I said in the previous post, I'd never heard of this ship before, so had to do some further research.

The USS Salute was an ocean-going minesweeper of the Admirable-class, the largest group of minesweepers built-ever for the US Navy, with 123 completed during the war. One, the USS Hazard (AM-240) remains today as a museum ship on dry land in Omaha, Nebraska.

It was laid down November 11, 1942, by Winslow Marine Railway and Shipbuilding Company in Seattle, Washington, and launched February 6, 1943. in a little less than three months. Commissioning was December 4, 1943.

Stats: 795 tons, 184.6 feet long, top speed of 15 knots, 104 crew with 9 guns and depth charges.


SERVICE

From April to September 1944, the Salute escorted convoys in the Pacific Ocean. On October 20th, it began a four-day sweep of mines in the main transport channel off Leyte and then provided anti-aircraft support for the landings.

From Oct. 27-31, the ship helped search for survivors from the Battle of Samar where a group of escort carriers, destroyers and destroyer escorts repulsed an attack by a larger Japanese fleet.

More to Come-- Cooter

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