USS ''Linnet (AM-76)'', was a of the

United States 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 ...

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 opposin ...

. Laid down on 18 June 1928 as the M/V ''Georgetown'' by Bath Iron Works Corp.,

Bath, Maine Bath is a city in Sagadahoc County, Maine, in the United States. The population was 8,766 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Sagadahoc County, which includes one city and 10 towns. The city is popular with tourists, many drawn by its ...

, for F. J. O'Hara and Sons, Inc. of Boston, Massachusetts. The ship was launched on 15 December 1928, and delivered on 19 December 1928. Renamed ''Linnet'' on 14 August 1940. Acquired by the U.S. Navy on 4 September 1940, conversion to a minesweeper began in September 1940 at the

Bethlehem Steel The Bethlehem Steel Corporation was an American steelmaking company headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. For most of the 20th century, it was one of the world's largest steel producing and shipbuilding companies. At the height of its succe ...

Co. of East Boston, Massachusetts. Commissioned as USS ''Linnet'' (AM-76) on 3 March 1941, conversion was completed in March 1941. Reclassified as an

Unclassified Miscellaneous Auxiliary The United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) use a hull classification symbol (sometimes called hull code or hull number) to identify their ships by type and by ind ...

IX-166 on 20 April 1944.

World War II Atlantic operations

Assigned to the Mine Warfare School, Yorktown, Virginia, ''Linnet'' engaged in experiments and training in the intricacies of mine operations. Upon completion of training in the spring 1942, the minesweeper sailed to join Fleet operations in the

South Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

South Atlantic operations

Based at Recife, Brazil, ''Linnet'' played an important role in harbor clearing operations to permit the free movement of ships from that port. She regained in Brazilian waters until 22 February 1944, when she sailed for

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 ...

, arriving there 17 March. ''Linnet'' was reclassified IX-168 on 20 April for possible use as a small cargo ship.

End-of-War deactivation

Plans were changed, however, and she was decommissioned on 18 December 1944 at Boston, Massachusetts. Returned to the

War Shipping Administration The War Shipping Administration (WSA) was a World War II emergency war agency of the US government, tasked to purchase and operate the civilian shipping tonnage the United States needed for fighting the war. Both shipbuilding under the Maritime Co ...

on 31 July 1945, and converted to mercantile service and renamed M/V ''Cambridge''. Fate unknown.

References

External links

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Photo gallery
At Naval Historical Center {{DEFAULTSORT:Linnet Ships built in Bath, Maine 1928 ships Kite-class minesweepers World War II minesweepers of the United States