USS ''Murrelet'' (AM-372) was an acquired by the United States Navy to remove mines from minefields laid to prevent ships from passing. She was the only U.S. Navy ship named for the

murrelet An auk or alcid is a bird of the family Alcidae in the order Charadriiformes. The alcid family includes the murres, guillemots, auklets, puffins, and murrelets. The word "auk" is derived from Icelandic ''álka'', from Old Norse ''alka'' (au ...

, a small sea bird found chiefly on islands in the northern Pacific Ocean. ''Murrelet'' was laid down 29 August 1944 by the Savannah Machine & Foundry Co., Savannah, Georgia; launched 29 December 1944; sponsored by Mrs. W. L. Mingledorff; and commissioned 21 August 1945.

Service history

Post-World War II operations

Following

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, ...

off Virginia, ''Murrelet'' departed Little Creek, Virginia, and steamed for Japan, arriving Sasebo on 14 January 1946. She engaged in sweeping operations in Japanese and Korean waters until 22 April, when she steamed for the

west coast West Coast or west coast may refer to: Geography Australia * Western Australia *Regions of South Australia#Weather forecasting, West Coast of South Australia * West Coast, Tasmania **West Coast Range, mountain range in the region Canada * Britis ...

. ''Murrelet'' was decommissioned on 20 June 1946, and entered the

Pacific 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 ...

at San Diego.

Korean War

After hostilities broke out in Korea, ''Murrelet'' recommissioned 28 October 1950. She reported to COMINRON 5 for extensive minesweeping training at Long Beach, California, 6 March 1951. She arrived Yokosuka, Japan, in August 1951 to aid United Nations forces meeting the challenge of Communist aggression. Departing Yokosuka on 21 August, she sailed to Korea, participating in operations north of Wonsan, in the Hungnam,

Songjin Kimch'aek (), formerly Sŏngjin (Chosŏn'gŭl: 성진, Hancha: 城津), is a city in North Hamgyong Province, North Korea. It was an open port in 1899. It has a population of 207,699. Etymology The city received its current name in 1951 during ...

, and Chongjin areas. She resumed shelling and sweeping operations at Songjin on 27 November 1951, after returning from a period of yard duty at Yokosuka. She continued sweeping and patrol duties off Korea in 1952, capturing and destroying enemy

sampans A sampan is a relatively flat-bottomed Chinese and Malay wooden boat. Some sampans include a small shelter on board and may be used as a permanent habitation on inland waters. The design closely resembles Western hard chine boats like th ...

, until July, when she returned to the west coast. ''Murrelet'' started a second tour of duty off Korea in April 1953, returning to Long Beach, California, in December. Redesignated MSF-372, 7 February 1955, she continued to operate off the west coast of the United States, except for a third WestPac deployment that year. She decommissioned 14 March 1957, and was assigned to the

, at

Columbia City, Oregon Columbia City is a city in Columbia County, Oregon, United States. It was named for its location on the Columbia River. The population was 1,946 at the 2010 census. History Columbia City was founded in 1867 by Jacob and Joseph Caples. In 1 ...

. Struck from the

Naval Register 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 author ...

on 1 December 1964, she was transferred in June 1965 to the

Philippine Navy The Philippine Navy (PN) ( tgl, Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, , Sea Army of the Philippines) ( es, Armada de Filipinas, , Ejército del Mar de las Filipinas) is the naval warfare service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It has an e ...

under the Foreign Military Assistance Program, and served as

BRP Rizal (PS-74) The BRP ''Rizal'' (PS-74) was the lead ship and first of two Rizal class corvette, ''Rizal'' class ships in service with the Philippine Navy. She was an ex-USN Auk class minesweeper, ''Auk'' class minesweeper (ship), minesweeper that was produce ...

Awards

''Murrelet'' received five battle stars for Korean service.

References

External links

Web site dedicated to the memory of the USS ''Murrelet'' (AM-372)
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Murrelet (AM-372) Auk-class minesweepers of the United States Navy Ships built in Savannah, Georgia 1944 ships World War II minesweepers of the United States Korean War minesweepers of the United States Ships transferred from the United States Navy to the Philippine Navy