USS ''Tapacola'' (AMc-54) 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 U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing. ''Tapacola'' was laid down on 10 January 1941 by Snow Shipyards, Rockland, Maine; launched on 3 July 1941; sponsored by Mrs. George T. Swiggum; and commissioned on 20 September 1941 at the Boston Navy Yard.

World War II service

''Tapacola'' departed Boston, Massachusetts, on 19 October for Yorktown, Virginia, where she held training at the Mine Warfare School before proceeding 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 ...

. Upon her arrival there, on 30 October, she was directed to continue onward to Florida for duty with the 7th Naval District. The minesweeper arrived at

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 ...

, on 7 November 1941 and operated in waters off southern Florida until 30 June 1945 when she sailed to

Mayport, Florida Mayport is a small community located between Naval Station Mayport and the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida. It is part of the Jacksonville Beaches communities. The only public road to Mayport is State Road A1A, which crosses the St. Johns ...

. Her minesweeping gear was removed, and ''Tapacola'' began towing targets in connection with aviation training at the air station.

Redesignated IX-230

On 10 August, her designation was changed to IX-230. She was transferred to the

8th 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 ...

and arrived at

Pensacola, Florida Pensacola () is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle, and the county seat and only incorporated city of Escambia County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 54,312. Pensacola is the principal ...

, on 13 December 1945.

Deactivation

On 28 May 1946, ''Tapacola'' was placed out of service and, the next month, declared “surplus to Navy needs". ''Tapacola'' was struck from the Navy list on 29 October 1946.

References

External links

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tapacola Accentor-class minesweepers World War II minesweepers of the United States Ships built in Rockland, Maine 1941 ships