USS Linnet (AM-76), was a of the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

.

Laid down on 18 June 1928 as the M/V Georgetown by Bath Iron Works

Bath Iron Works

Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy...

 Corp., Bath, Maine

Bath, Maine

Bath is a city in Sagadahoc County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 9,266. It is the county seat of Sagadahoc County. Located on the Kennebec River, Bath is a port of entry with a good harbor. The city is popular with tourists, many drawn by its...

, for F. J. O'Hara and Sons, Inc. of Boston, Massachusetts. The ship was launched on 15 December 1928, and delivered on 19 December 1928. Renamed Linnet on 14 August 1940. Acquired by the U.S. Navy on 4 September 1940, conversion to a minesweeper began in September 1940 at the Bethlehem Steel

Bethlehem Steel

The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S...

 Co. of East Boston, Massachusetts. Commissioned as USS Linnet (AM-76) on 3 March 1941, conversion was completed in March 1941. Reclassified as an Unclassified Miscellaneous Auxiliary IX-166 on 20 April 1944.

World War II Atlantic operations

Assigned to the Mine Warfare School, Yorktown, Virginia

Yorktown, Virginia

Yorktown is a census-designated place in York County, Virginia, United States. The population was 220 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight original shires formed in colonial Virginia in 1634....

, Linnet engaged in experiments and training in the intricacies of mine operations. Upon completion of training in the spring 1942, the minesweeper sailed to join Fleet operations in the South Atlantic

Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...

.

South Atlantic operations

Based at Recife, Brazil, Linnet played an important role in harbor clearing operations to permit the free movement of ships from that port. She regained in Brazilian

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

 waters until 22 February 1944, when she sailed for Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....

, arriving there 17 March. Linnet was reclassified IX-168 on 20 April for possible use as a small cargo ship.

End-of-War deactivation

Plans were changed, however, and she was decommissioned on 18 December 1944 at Boston, Massachusetts. Returned to the War Shipping Administration

War Shipping Administration

The War Shipping Administration was a World War II emergency war agency of the US Government, tasked to purchase and operate the civilian shipping tonnage the US needed for fighting the war....

on 31 July 1945, and converted to mercantile service and renamed M/V Cambridge. Fate unknown.

External links

• Photo gallery At Naval Historical Center