USS ''Killdeer'' (AMc-21) was a unique

coastal minesweeper Coastal minesweeper is a term used by the United States Navy to indicate a minesweeper intended for coastal use as opposed to participating in fleet operations at sea. Because of its small size—usually less than 100 feet in length—and construc ...

acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing. ''Killdeer'' was originally built as a purse seiner in 1930 by Al Larson Boat Building,

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wo ...

, with the name of ''Vindicator''; rebuilt in 1940 by Harbor Boat Works,

San Pedro, California San Pedro ( ; Spanish: "St. Peter") is a neighborhood within the City of Los Angeles, California. Formerly a separate city, it consolidated with Los Angeles in 1909. The Port of Los Angeles, a major international seaport, is partially located wi ...

; acquired by the Navy from her owner, Mr. Martin Trutanich, 8 November 1940; and placed in service the same day as ''Killdeer''.

World War II service

From 9 November 1940 to 17 April 1941 she underwent conversion to ''AMc-21'', and on 8 May 1941 she began service with the 12th Naval District. Operating out of

San Francisco, California San Francisco (; Spanish for "Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...

, ''Killdeer'' transferred to the

Western Sea Frontier Sea Frontiers were several, now disestablished, commands of the United States Navy as areas of defense against enemy vessels, especially submarines, along the U.S. coasts. They existed from 1 July 1941 until in some cases the 1970s. Sea Frontiers ...

1 August for further service as a channel minesweeping ship. She continued sweeping shipping lanes in the approaches to

San Francisco Bay San Francisco Bay is a large tidal estuary in the United States, U.S. state of California, and gives its name to the San Francisco Bay Area. It is dominated by the big cities of San Francisco, San Jose, California, San Jose, and Oakland, Ca ...

until 12 September 1944 when she was placed out of service.

Reclassified as IX-194

Reclassified as ''IX-194'' on 25 September, ''Killdeer'' was used by the 12th Naval District as a general utility vessel.

Final decommissioning

Her name was struck from the Naval Register 2 June 1945, and she was turned over to the

Maritime Commission The United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) was an independent executive agency of the U.S. federal government that was created by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, which was passed by Congress on June 29, 1936, and was abolished on May 24, 19 ...

for disposal 9 January 1946.

References

External links

NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - Killdeer (IX 194) - AMc-21
{{DEFAULTSORT:Killdeer (AMc-21) Ships built in Los Angeles 1930 ships Minesweepers of the United States Navy World War II minesweepers of the United States