USS Nightingale (AMc-18) was a unique 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.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Ordered | as Majestic |
| Builder | Al Larson Boat Building |
| Laid down | date unknown |
| Launched | 1934 |
| Acquired | 5 November 1940 |
| Commissioned | 31 January 1941 |
| Decommissioned | c. 1944 |
| Stricken | 14 October 1944 |
| Fate | Returned to owner |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 197 tons |
| Length | 83 ft 2 in (25.35 m) |
| Beam | 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m) |
| Draft | 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m) |
| Propulsion | diesel-powered |
| Speed | 11.0 knots |
| Complement | 17 |
| Armament | two .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns |
The third ship to be named Nightingale by the Navy, AMc-18 was built by Al Larson Boat Building in San Pedro, California, in 1934 as Majestic, a wooden-hulled, diesel-powered purse seiner. She was acquired by the Navy from Klemente Zar at Western Boat Building Co in Tacoma, Washington, 5 November 1940; and commissioned 31 January 1941.
World War II service
editNightingale operated as a coastal minesweeper in the Puget Sound area. In May she entered the yard at Western Boat Building Co., Tacoma for alteration to a patrol craft and was reclassified YP–166. The name Nightingale was cancelled for YP–166 and reassigned to AMc–149 on 22 April 1942. YP–166 served as a training craft in Puget Sound until 14 October 1944. She was struck from the Navy List 14 October 1944 and returned to her owner.
References
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This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
