USS Chimango (AMc-42) was an Accentor-class coastal minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing. The vessel was named after the chimango, a medium-sized South American bird of prey.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Chimango |
| Namesake | Bird: Chimango |
| Laid down | date unknown |
| Launched | 8 March 1941 |
| Commissioned | 3 June 1941 |
| Decommissioned | 15 June 1942 |
| In service | 15 June 1942 |
| Out of service | 20 December 1945 |
| Stricken | date unknown |
| Fate | Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal 21 August 1947 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 205 tons |
| Length | 97 ft 5 in (29.69 m) |
| Beam | 22 ft 5 in (6.83 m) |
| Draft | 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m) |
| Speed | 10.0 knots |
| Complement | 17 |
| Armament | two .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns |
The first ship to be named Chimango by the Navy, AMC-42 was launched 8 March 1941 by Gibbs Gas Engine Co., Jacksonville, Florida, and commissioned 3 June 1941.
World War II service
editChimango had training at Mine Warfare Base, Yorktown, Virginia, until 26 July 1941 when she rendezvoused with USS Goldfinch (AM-77) and USS Jacamar (AMc-47) to sail to Argentia, Newfoundland.
From 2 August she operated off this new base laying buoys, taking part in minesweeping exercises, and recovering gear in Placentia Bay, until 5 October when she sailed for Casco Bay, Maine, and sweeping operations and patrols along the Maine coast. She also received aboard daily armed guard parties from merchant ships for instruction.
Inservice activities
editOn 15 June 1942 she was decommissioned but placed in service, and continued to operate on minesweeping and patrol duty at New York and Charleston, South Carolina, until 20 December 1945.
Deactivation
editShe was transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal 21 August 1947.
References
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This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.