USS ''Advance'' (AMc-63) was an ''Accentor''-class

coastal minesweeper Coastal minesweeper is a term used by the United States Navy to indicate a minesweeper intended for coastal use as opposed to participating in fleet operations at sea. Because of its small size—usually less than 100 feet in length—and construct ...

acquired by the United States Navy for the task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing. The fifth ship to be named ''Advance'' by the Navy, ''AMc-63'' was laid down on 12 April 1941 at Greenport,

Long Island, New York Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United States and the 18th ...

, by the

Greenport Basin and Construction Company The Greenport Basin and Construction Company, known by various names throughout its history, but most recently named the Greenport Yacht & Shipbuilding Company, is a shipbuilder in Greenport, Suffolk County, New York. It was established in the 19th ...

as ''Aggressor''; renamed ''Advance'' on 23 May 1941; launched on 28 June 1941; sponsored by Mary R. Gillespie; and placed in service at the

New York Navy Yard The Brooklyn Navy Yard (originally known as the New York Navy Yard) is a shipyard and industrial complex located in northwest Brooklyn in New York City, New York (state), New York. The Navy Yard is located on the East River in Wallabout Bay, a ...

on 10 October 1941, Lt. Walter E. Goering, USNR, in charge.

World War II service

The

completed her outfitting at Brooklyn, New York, and moved south to

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Be ...

. After mine detection and sweeping training under the auspices of the Naval Mine Warfare School at Yorktown, Virginia, ''Advance'' began operations with the forces assigned to the Commandant,

5th Naval District The naval district was a U.S. Navy military and administrative command ashore. Apart from Naval District Washington, the Districts were disestablished and renamed Navy Regions about 1999, and are now under Commander, Naval Installations Command ...

. Based at Little Creek, Virginia, she served directly under the Commander, Inshore Patrol,

. That duty lasted until late May 1944 when she was reassigned to the

1st Naval District The naval district was a U.S. Navy military and administrative command ashore. Apart from Naval District Washington, the Districts were disestablished and renamed Navy Regions about 1999, and are now under Commander, Naval Installations Command ...

. ''Advance'' operated along the New England coast until the middle of June 1945. At that time, she returned briefly to Norfolk before continuing on to

Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, the county seat of Charleston County, and the principal city in the Charleston–North Charleston metropolitan area. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint o ...

, in July. There, the minesweeper reported to the Commandant, 6th Naval District, for disposition.

Post-war inactivation

On 6 December 1945, ''Advance'' was placed out of service and berthed in the Wando River. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 3 January 1946, and she was sold for scrapping on 3 March 1947 to Lloyd Lambert of

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was d ...

, Maryland.

References

External links

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

{{DEFAULTSORT:Advance (AMc-63) Accentor-class minesweepers Ships built in Greenport, New York 1941 ships World War II minesweepers of the United States