The first USS ''Mallard'' (AM-44/ASR-4) was a in the United States Navy. She was later converted to a submarine rescue ship. ''Mallard'' was laid down by

Staten Island Shipbuilding Company USS ''Bache'', Bethlehem Staten Island first Fletcher-class destroyer built in 1942 Bethlehem Staten Island also called Bethlehem Mariners Harbor was a large shipyard in Mariners Harbor, Staten Island, New York. The shipyard started building s ...

, New York City, 25 May 1918; launched 17 December 1918; sponsored by Mrs. Harry R. Brayton, wife of the commanding officer at commissioning; and commissioned 25 June 1919.

Post-World War I Atlantic operations

Assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, ''Mallard'' conducted minesweep duties in the

3rd 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 ...

through the next nine years. Transferred to

submarine A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...

rescue operations following conversion at Boston Navy Yard June to December 1928, ''Mallard'' was redesignated ASR-4 on 12 September 1929. From January to March 1929 she joined submarine in experimental maneuvers off

Key West, Florida Key West ( es, Cayo Hueso) is an island in the Straits of Florida, within the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Sigsbee Park, Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Isla ...

World War II assignment

The next year ''Mallard'' sailed for Coco Solo, her new home port, for patrol off Panama, where she remained throughout World War II attached to Submarine Squadron 3. During that time she performed target towing and diver training services for ships of the fleet.

End-of-War decommissioning

In May 1946 she sailed for the

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, arriving

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 ...

to be decommissioned 10 December and stripped. On 22 May 1947 ''Mallard'' was used as a target ship and sunk by torpedo fire from .

References

External links

*
Rescue and Salvage Ships

Ships List
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mallard Lapwing-class minesweepers Ships built in Staten Island 1918 ships World War II auxiliary ships of the United States Lapwing-class minesweepers converted to submarine rescue ships Ships sunk as targets Maritime incidents in 1947 Submarine rescue ships