USS Turkey (AM-13)
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States
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| Name: | USS Turkey |
| Builder: | Chester Shipbuilding, Chester, Pennsylvania |
| Laid down: | 19 August 1917 |
| Launched: | 30 April 1918, as Minesweeper No.13 |
| Commissioned: | 13 December 1918 |
| Decommissioned: | 6 November 1945 |
| Reclassified: |
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| Struck: | 28 November 1945 |
| Honours and awards: |
1 battle star (World War II) |
| Fate: | Sold for scrap, 30 December 1946 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Lapwing-class minesweeper |
| Displacement: | 840 long tons (853 t) |
| Length: | 187 ft 10 in (57.25 m) |
| Beam: | 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) |
| Draft: | 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) |
| Speed: | 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Complement: | 85 |
| Armament: | 2 × 3 in (76 mm) guns |
USS Turkey (AM-13) was an Lapwing-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.
Turkey (Minesweeper No. 13) was laid down on 19 August 1917 at Chester, Pennsylvania, by the Chester Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 30 April 1918; sponsored by Mrs. W. T. Smith; and commissioned on 13 December 1918, Lt. John H. McDonald in command.
Although completed too late to see service during World War I, Turkey took part in the gigantic operation to clear the mine barrage which had been laid in the North Sea during this conflict. This system of minefields constituted a formidable obstacle to the resumption of trade in the aftermath of the war. After steaming across the Atlantic Ocean, the new minesweeper arrived at Kirkwall, Scotland, on 20 April 1919 and joined the American forces massing there to begin clearing the shipping lanes between Scotland and Norway.
Soon thereafter, Turkey got underway for mine-sweeping operations in the North Sea. During her second operation (which ran from 8 to 29 May), a mine exploded directly beneath Turkey on 16 May. The disabled minesweeper crept to Lyeness, at Scapa Flow, where she was drydocked for repairs.
Her damage was corrected in time for Turkey to take part in the project's fifth operation, commencing on 22 July. Eight days later, the minesweeper suffered a condenser failure. After receiving a cannibalized unit from the disabled Pelican (AM-27), she resumed operations in mid-August.
Fair weather conditions, unusual for the North Sea, enabled the ships to make excellent progress. While thus engaged, Turkey fouled a mine in her sweep gear; and it exploded close aboard, causing minor damage. However, the ship effected quick repairs at sea and continued operations without missing the proverbial step. By the 16th, Turkey's group had swept a record 1,373 mines.
Deteriorating weather conditions, however, hampered the clearing of group 13, in an operation begun on 5 September. After delaying putting to sea due to heavy fog, the ships got underway to carry out their assignment but seemed dogged with misfortune and bad luck from the beginning. Oriole (AM-7) snared a mine which exploded in one of her "kites", damaging both kite and ship and forcing her to limp home. Swan (AM-34) closed Turkey to obtain more sweep wire to replace her depleted stock, but the capricious sea slammed the two ships together, forcing USS Swan out of action and back to port for repairs.
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