The second USS ''Tern'' (AM-31) was an acquired by 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 ...

for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing. ''Tern'' was laid down on 7 September 1918 at

Morris Heights, New York Morris Heights is a residential neighborhood located in the West Bronx. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise are: West Burnside Avenue to the north, Jerome Avenue to the east, the Cross-Bronx Expressway to the south, and ...

, by the Gas Engine & Power Co. and the C. L. Seabury Co.; launched on 22 March 1919; sponsored by Mrs. Bruce Scrimgeour; and commissioned on 17 May 1919 as Minesweeper No. 31.

West Coast operations

''Tern'' was assigned to the United States Pacific Fleet and steamed to the west coast. On 1 October, the

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 ...

joined Train Squadron (TrainRon) 2, Fleet Base Force, at

Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor is an American lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. It was often visited by the Naval fleet of the United States, before it was acquired from the Hawaiian Kingdom by the U.S. with the signing of the R ...

. Her squadron operated in support of the Battle Force for the next nine years. ''Tern'' was designated AM-31 on 17 July 1920 when the Navy first assigned hull numbers to its ships. In July 1927, ''Tern'' and her squadron moved to

San Diego, California San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United Stat ...

, and operated out of that port for six years before their base was shifted to

San Pedro, California San Pedro ( ; Spanish: "St. Peter") is a neighborhood within the City of Los Angeles, California. Formerly a separate city, it consolidated with Los Angeles in 1909. The Port of Los Angeles, a major international seaport, is partially located wi ...

. ''Tern'' remained with TrainRon 2, Base Force, and accompanied it to Pearl Harbor on 19 June 1941 when the squadron was again assigned to Hawaii.

Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

When the Japanese attacked

on 7 December 1941, ''Tern'' was alongside in the first repair slip at the north end of 1010 Dock, upkeep undergoing. All of her machinery was dead, and she was receiving steam and electricity from the dock. She was notified of the attack at 0753 and immediately made preparations to get underway. Twelve minutes later, her gunners opened fire with Lewis Gun, Lewis machine guns on an incoming enemy plane which was seen to crash near the Officers' Club. At 0943, the minesweeper moved out into the harbor and picked up 47 survivors from various ships. ''Tern'' then proceeded to to assist in fighting fires but was soon ordered to aid . The fires on ''West Virginia'' were extinguished at 1430 on 8 December, and the minesweeper moved back alongside ''Arizona'' until the fires on that battleship were brought under control, shortly after noon on the 9th. ''Tern'' was not damaged by the Empire of Japan, Japanese attack.

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

On 9 January 1942, ''Tern'' began towing a fuel oil barge to Johnston Island. She delivered it on the 13th and returned to

. ''Tern'' got underway for the Society Islands on 9 February, arrived at Bora Bora, Borabora on the 18th, and was assigned duty there as station ship. On 1 March, the Base Force was renamed Service Force, Pacific; and, on 1 June, the minesweeper was redesignated AT-142, an ocean Tugboat, tug. She remained at Borabora until 2 January 1943 when she was relieved by . The tug returned to Pearl Harbor on 27 January and, five weeks later, headed for

, and an overhaul. ''Tern'' arrived back at Pearl Harbor on 23 May and joined the Service Squadron, United States Third Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet, operating in the Hawaiian area. Her duties for the next year consisted of recovering training torpedoes, towing targets for bombing and gunnery practice, and assisting other ships. On 15 May 1944, her designation was changed to ATO-142 (Ocean Tug, Old).

Supporting the liberation of the Philippines

On 9 July, ''Tern'' joined a convoy headed for the Marshall Islands. She arrived at Eniwetok on the 28th and operated from that base for the next five months towing craft to Majuro, Tarawa, Ulithi, and Guam. On 4 January 1945, the tug shifted her base of operations to Ulithi for five months. On 26 May, ''Tern'' got underway for Leyte, Philippine Islands. She arrived at San Pedro on 1 June and was assigned duty as a target towing ship with Submarine Training, Pacific Fleet, at Guam. The tug arrived at Apra Harbor, Guam, on 20 June and operated with submarines until 1 September when she was relieved by (ATO-133). The next week, ''Tern'' began the long voyage, via Eniwetok and

, to the United States.

Post-war deactivation

''Tern'' arrived at San Francisco, California, in mid-October and began preparing for inactivation. She was decommissioned on 23 November and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 5 December 1945.

Awards

''Tern'' received one battle star for World War II.

References

External links

*
USS ''Tern'', Report of Pearl Harbor Attack

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tern Lapwing-class minesweepers Ships built in Morris Heights, Bronx 1918 ships World War I minesweepers of the United States Ships present during the attack on Pearl Harbor World War II auxiliary ships of the United States Lapwing-class minesweepers converted to tugs