USS Rail (AMCU-37)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Rail.

USS Rail (LCI(L)-1022/AMCU-37/MHC-37) was a Landing Craft Infantry Large.of the United States Navy, later converted to an AMCU-7-class coastal minesweeper.

History
United States
Name	USS Rail
Builder	Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon
Laid down	3 March 1944
Launched	17 April 1944
Commissioned	18 May 1944, as USS LCI(L)-1022
Decommissioned	14 August 1946
Recommissioned	13 September 1952, as USS Rail (AMCU-37)
Decommissioned	13 October 1957
Reclassified	LSIL-1022, 28 February 1949 AMCU-37, 7 March 1952 MHC-37, 7 February 1955
Stricken	1 January 1960
Identification	IMO number: 5000639
Honors and awards	2 battle stars (World War II)
Fate	Sold
General characteristics
Class and type	Landing Craft Infantry Large
Displacement	387 long tons (393 t)
Length	159 ft (48 m)
Beam	23 ft 8 in (7.21 m)
Draft	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Propulsion	8 × GM diesel engines (4 per shaft), 1,600 bhp (1,193 kW) 2 × variable pitch propellers
Speed	14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement	40
Armament	5 × single 20 mm AA guns

The ship was laid down by the Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon, on 3 March 1944, launched on 17 April 1944, and commissioned as USS LCI(L)-1022 on 18 May 1944.

World War II Pacific operations

After shakedown out of San Diego, California, she steamed for Pearl Harbor on 15 July 1944. After proceeding to Milne Bay, she continued on to the Philippines, took part as a large infantry landing craft in the Ormoc Bay landing on 7 December and the Mindoro landing on 15 December. She then remained in the Philippines until the end of the war, departing Tacloban on 5 September for Okinawa.

Return Stateside

She put into Shanghai before steaming for Pearl Harbor; San Pedro, California; the Canal Zone; and New Orleans, where she arrived on 20 May 1946 and reported to Commander, 8th Naval District, for inactivation.

Decommissioning

She was decommissioned on 14 August 1946, and arrived at Mayport, Florida, on 20 October for lay-up at Green Cove Springs. She was redesignated LSIL-1022 on 28 February 1949. In February 1952 she was moved to Charleston and then New York. On 7 March 1952 she was reclassified a coastal minesweeper (underwater locator), redesignated AMCU-37 and renamed Rail. She was converted by the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard and was recommissioned as USS Rail (AMCU-37) on 13 September 1952.

Reactivation

After shakedown off Norfolk, Rail was assigned to Little Creek, Virginia, to evaluate new underwater mine-locating sonar equipment. In March 1953 she was ordered to U.S. Naval Mine Countermeasures Station in Panama City, Florida, for further sonar evaluation, returning to Little Creek in December.

In June 1954 Rail was ordered to Coco Solo, Canal Zone, and placed under operational control of the Commandant, 15th Naval District. On 7 February 1955, she was reclassified as a coastal minehunter (MHC-37). She operated out of Coco Solo and Guantanamo Bay, putting into Norfolk briefly on 11 June 1956. She returned to Coco Solo, where she remained until sailing north to Boston on 4 September 1957.

Final decommissioning

She decommissioned at New London, Connecticut, on 13 October 1957, and was struck from the Navy List on 1 January 1960.

Awards

Rail earned two battle stars for World War II service.

References

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links

• Photo gallery of USS Rail at NavSource Naval History