''T-116'' was a minesweeper of the Soviet Navy during World War II and the

Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...

. She had originally been built as USS ''Arcade'' (AM-143), an , 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 Lend-Lease, formally the Lend-Lease Act and introduced as An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States (), was a policy under which the United States supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and other Allied nations with food, oil, ...

as ''T-116''; she was never returned to the United States. The ship was renamed several times in Soviet service and was scrapped on 4 May 1963. Because of the

, 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.

Career

''Arcade'' was laid down on 8 June 1942 at Tampa, Florida, by the

Tampa Shipbuilding Tampa Shipbuilding Company, or TASCO, was one of a number of shipyards in Tampa, Florida. It operated from 1917 to after World War II, closing in 1947. History Origins Originally Tampa Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, founded in 1917, the y ...

Co.; launched on 7 December 1942; sponsored by Miss V. Zoll; and completed on 26 August 1943. She was transferred to the Soviet Navy that same day as ''T-116''. She was never returned to U.S. custody. On 5 September 1944, while on patrol in Kara Sea, T-116 attacked and sunk with depth charges the German submarine U-362. In Soviet service the ship was renamed ''TB-23'' on 11 July 1956, and ''SM-7'' on 23 October 1962. The ship was eventually scrapped on 4 May 1963. Due to the ongoing

, the U.S. Navy was unaware of this fate. They had reclassified the vessel as ''MSF-143'' on 7 February 1955, and kept her on the American Naval Vessel Register until she was struck on 1 January 1983.

References

External links

NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive – Arcade (MSF 143) – ex-AM-143 – ex-AMc-120
{{DEFAULTSORT:T-116 Admirable-class minesweepers Ships built in Tampa, Florida 1942 ships World War II minesweepers of the United States Admirable-class minesweepers of the Soviet Navy World War II minesweepers of the Soviet Union Cold War minesweepers of the Soviet Union