T-115 was a minesweeper of the Soviet Navy during World War II and the Cold War. She had originally been built as USS Apex (AM-142), an Admirable-class minesweeper, for the United States Navy during World War II, but never saw active service in the U.S. Navy. Upon completion she was transferred to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease as T-115; she was never returned to the United States. The ship was eventually scrapped on 1 June 1966. Because of the Cold War, the U.S. Navy was unaware of this fate and the vessel remained on the American Naval Vessel Register until she was struck on 1 January 1983.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USS Apex (AMc-119) |
| Builder | Tampa Shipbuilding Company |
| Reclassified | AM-142, 21 February 1942 |
| Laid down | 8 June 1942 |
| Launched | 7 December 1942 |
| Completed | 17 August 1943 |
| Fate | Transferred to the Soviet Union, 17 August 1943 |
| Reclassified | MSF-142, 7 February 1955 |
| Stricken | 1 January 1983 |
| History | |
 Soviet Union | |
| Name | T-115 |
| Acquired | 17 August 1943 |
| Renamed | Aydar, 1 September 1955 |
| Fate | Scrapped, 1 June 1966 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Admirable-class minesweeper |
| Displacement | 650 tons |
| Length | 184 ft 6 in (56.24 m) |
| Beam | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Draft | 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 14.8 knots (27.4 km/h) |
| Complement | 104 |
| Armament |
|
Career
editApex was laid down on 8 June 1942 at Tampa, Florida, by the Tampa Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 7 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. J. L. Chancey; and completed on 17 August 1943. She was transferred to the Soviet Navy that same day as T-115. She was never returned to U.S. custody.
In Soviet service she was renamed Aydar on 1 September 1955. She was eventually scrapped on 1 June 1966.
Due to the ongoing Cold War, the U.S. Navy was unaware of this fate. They had reclassified the vessel as MSF-142 on 7 February 1955, and kept her on the American Naval Vessel Register until she was struck on 1 January 1983.
References
edit
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.