USS ''Gadwall'' (AM-362) was an Admirable-class

minesweeper A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Using various mechanisms intended to counter the threat posed by naval mines, minesweepers keep waterways clear for safe shipping. History The earliest known usage of ...

built for the

U.S. Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. She was built to clear minefields in offshore waters. ''Gadwall'' was launched 15 July 1943 by

Willamette Iron and Steel Works Willamette Iron Works (also known as Willamette Iron and Steel Company or WISCO) was a general foundry and machine business established in 1865 in Portland, Oregon, originally specializing in the manufacture of steamboat boilers and engines. In ...

Portland Oregon Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the list of cities in Oregon, largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, Columbia rivers, Portland is ...

; sponsored by Mrs. Charles McNary; and commissioned 23 June 1945.

End-of-war Pacific Theatre activity

''Gadwall'' departed Astoria, Oregon, 11 July 1945 for

shakedown Shakedown may refer to: * Shakedown (continuum mechanics), a type of plastic deformation * Shakedown (testing) or a shakedown cruise, a period of testing undergone by a ship, airplane or other craft before being declared operational * Extortion, ...

training out of San Pedro, Los Angeles, followed by mine warfare exercises and amphibious maneuvers with fleet units off the

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

bases of Santa Barbara,

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, and

Newport Beach Newport Beach is a coastal city in South Orange County, California. Newport Beach is known for swimming and sandy beaches. Newport Harbor once supported maritime industries however today, it is used mostly for recreation. Balboa Island draws ...

Post-war inactivation and decommissioning

On 7 December 1945 she put to sea from San Diego for inactivation overhaul at

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

, Louisiana, until 11 April 1946. She then shifted to

Orange, Texas Orange is a city and the county seat of Orange County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 19,324. It is the easternmost city in Texas, located on the Sabine River at the border with Louisiana, and is from Hous ...

, where she decommissioned 14 June 1946 and was assigned to the Texas Group,

Atlantic Reserve Fleet The United States Navy maintains a number of its ships as part of a reserve fleet, often called the "Mothball Fleet". While the details of the maintenance activity have changed several times, the basics are constant: keep the ships afloat and s ...

. She was reclassified MSF-362 on 7 February 1955 and she remained in reserve berthed at Orange, Texas, until struck from the

Navy List A Navy Directory, formerly the Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval autho ...

1 November 1966. ''Gadwall'' was stripped and designated for sale 10 April 1967.

References

External links

NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - Gadwall (MSF 362) - ex-AM-362
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gadwall (Am-362) Admirable-class minesweepers World War II mine warfare vessels of the United States Ships built in Portland, Oregon 1943 ships