USS Grebe (AM-43)-- Part 2: Sinking A Sub, Hurricane Work and Towing the USS Constitution

Continued from April 23, 2019.

The Grebe's next duty was to depth charge target submarine G-1 (SS-19 1/2) which she did on June 23.  The ship was involved in other operations along the U.S. East Coast until  decommissioned in 1922.  Near the end of the year the Grebe was recommissioned and stationed in the Caribbean.

Hurricane Rescue Work

In 1930, the Grebe rushed to the aide of the Dominican republic where a hurricane had caused much destruction  Carrying trained medical men and emergency supplies, she was the first ship to reach the island where she remained for two weeks.

Towing the USS Constitution

This is where I talked about the Grebe in my Not So Forgotten: War of 1812 blog.

The Grebe returned to Boston in 1931 and on 12 July took tow of the historic sailing frigate USS Constitution.  A long campaign had been waged to provide financing to restore the historic ship to her original condition and the Grebe spent nearly the next three years as her tender and towing ship.

They visited nearly every  major American port on both the East and West Coasts.  Millions of Americans thrilled to the sight of the "Old Ironsides."    Some of the stops were in New York City, Washington, D.C., Norfolk, Key West Galveston, Guantanamo,   Los Angeles, Seattle, Bellingham, Portland and the Panama Canal Zone.

After that, the Grebe was transferred to the West Coast.

It was at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and I will write about the Grebe's experience there and in the rest of WW II in my Tattooed On Your Soul World War II blog next month.

--CootTowing

USS Grebe (AM-43)-- Part 1: World War I Mines in the North Sea

In my Not So Forgotten:  War of 1812 blog, I recently wrote about the USS Grebe, which towed and served as the tender for the famed War of 1812 warship, USS Constitution on its 1931-1932 National Cruise to U.S.ports after it was restored.

I looked the ship up in Wikipedia and found this ship had quite an interesting and varied history.

USS GREBE

It was 187-foot long Lapwing-class minesweeper launched 17 December 1918 and served in many capacities until destroyed by a hurricane in 1943.  It was commissioned 1 May 1919 and from July to October of that year, participated in the clearing of the North Sea mines from WW I.

From then until 1921, she did a variety of jobs, including rescuing 139 passengers from the SS Mormugao on April 29.  (The SS Mormugao was a Portuguese ship which ran ashore off Block Island, Rhode Island. Her passengers were taken off and the ship was refloated on May 2.)

--Cooter

Civil War Trust Battles in August-- Part 2: Burning of Washington, D.C.

19th--  1812:  The USS Constitution defeats the HMS Gueriere

23rd--  1863:  Quantrill's Raid on Lawrence, Kansas

24th--  1814:  Battle of Bladensburg, Md.

24th--  1814--  Burning of Washington, D.C.

25th--  1864:  Second Battle of Ream's Station, Va.

27th--  1776--  Battle of Long Island, N.Y.

28th--  1862:  Second Battle of Manassas, Va. begins

30th--  1862:  Battle of Richmond, Ky.

--Cooter

The Navy Retires Its Last Modern Vessel To Sink An Enemy Vessel in 2015-- Part 1: The USS Simpson

From the October 12, 2015, Navy Times by Andrew Pantazi.

"The United States Navy decommissioned its last Perry-class frigate, reducing the Navy's number of ships that have sunk an enemy vessel to just one.  (More on the last remaining U.S. navy ship to have sunk an enemy ship in battle later.)

"The end of the Navy's frigates marks a new era of naval warfare where ships are less likely to go to battle in the open sea.

"The frigate Simpson removed its weapons, covered its windows, and, on September 29, it lowered its flags.  Now the ship will travel to Philadelphia until a foreign nation buys it.

"After 30 years of service -- including an April 1988 battle where it fired missiles at and sank an Iranian oil platform and an Iranian navy vessel -- the ship's service came to an end with a ceremony at Mayport Naval Station.

Now, the only Navy ship that has sunk an enemy is the USS Constitution, which did so during the War of 1812.

--Cooter

What Is the Greatest Warship of All Time? --Part 1

From the April 8, 2016, Naval History Blog by Jon Hoppe.

The USNI (United States Naval Institute) asked its readers to nominate and vote for the greatest warship of all time.  There were 900 reader-generated answers and 26,000 votes.

One ship led the poll in all aspects.

That ship;  the USS Constitution.

For the other top vote-getters, see tomorrow's blog.

--Cootership