USS Lapwing (AM-1)

Lapwing in review of the Atlantic Fleet Minesweeping Squadron, November 1919. Ships of the squadron anchored in the Hudson River, off New York City, while being reviewed by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels on 24 November 1919, following their return to the United States after taking part in clearing the North Sea Mine Barrage.
History
Name:	USS Lapwing
Builder:	Todd Shipyard Co., New York
Laid down:	25 October 1917
Launched:	14 March 1918
Commissioned:	12 June 1918
Decommissioned:	11 April 1922
Recommissioned:	1 September 1932
Decommissioned:	29 November 1945
Reclassified:	AVP-1, 22 January 1936
Fate:	Sold by WSA, 19 August 1946
General characteristics
Class and type:	Lapwing-class minesweeper
Displacement:	950 long tons (965 t)
Length:	187 ft 10 in (57.25 m)
Beam:	35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
Draft:	9 ft 10 in (3.00 m)
Speed:	14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement:	78
Armament:	2 × 3 in (76 mm) guns

USS Lapwing (AM-1/AVP-1) was the lead ship of her class of minesweeper — indeed, the first minesweeper of the United States Navy. She was named after a bird, the lapwing, an abundant crested plover (Vanellus vanellus) of Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, noted for its slow, irregular, flapping flight and its shrill wailing cry.

Lapwing was laid down 25 October 1917 by Todd Shipyard Co., New York; launched 14 March 1918; sponsored by Miss Agnes Forshew Schlegel; and commissioned 12 June 1918, Lt. (jg.) William Fremgen in command.

Following several convoy escort cruises to Halifax, Lapwing departed New London, Connecticut, 26 September 1918 for Europe. Assigned to the North Sea mine barrage, the minesweeper removed 2,160 mines from British waters between June and September 1919.

Upon her return to the United States, she was dispatched to the West Coast, arriving San Diego on 21 October 1920. Sailing for Pearl Harbor in January 1921, Lapwing engaged in minesweeping operations in Hawaiian waters until she decommissioned 11 April 1922.

Lapwing recommissioned at Pearl Harbor 1 September 1932, Lt. R. J. Arnold in command. She arrived Coco Solo, Canal Zone, 29 October for operations with the aircraft scouting force. From 1933 to 1941, Lapwing participated in various exercises with aircraft, helping develop American naval aviation capability for its decisive role in future wars. Reclassified as a Small Seaplane Tender, AVP-1, on 22 January 1936, she operated primarily with seaplanes in the Panama Canal Zone, along the West Coast, and in the Caribbean.