USS Tapacola (AMc-54)
Encyclopedia
USS Tapacola (AMc-54) was an Accentor-class
coastal 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.
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
.
, where she held training at the Mine Warfare School before proceeding to Norfolk, Virginia
. 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
, on 7 November 1941 and operated in waters off southern Florida
until 30 June 1945 when she sailed to Mayport, Florida. Her minesweeping gear was removed, and Tapacola began towing targets in connection with aviation training at the air station.
, on 13 December 1945.
on 29 October 1946.
Accentor class minesweeper
The Accentor class minesweeper, sometimes called the Accentor/Acme class minesweeper, was a small minesweeper used by the U.S. Navy during World War II. It was capable of sweeping mines in harbors and bays. Most were built in 1941–42...
coastal minesweeper
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....
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
Rockland, Maine
Rockland is a city in Knox County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,297. It is the county seat of Knox County. The city is a popular tourist destination...
; launched on 3 July 1941; sponsored by Mrs. George T. Swiggum; and commissioned on 20 September 1941 at the Boston Navy Yard
Boston Navy Yard
The Boston Navy Yard, originally called the Charlestown Navy Yard and later Boston Naval Shipyard, was one of the oldest shipbuilding facilities in the United States Navy. Established in 1801, it was officially closed as an active naval installation on July 1, 1974, and the property was...
.
World War II service
Tapacola departed Boston, Massachusetts, on 19 October for Yorktown, VirginiaYorktown, 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....
, where she held training at the Mine Warfare School before proceeding to 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....
. Upon her arrival there, on 30 October, she was directed to continue onward to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
for duty with the 7th Naval District.
The minesweeper arrived at Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
, on 7 November 1941 and operated in waters off southern Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
until 30 June 1945 when she sailed to Mayport, Florida. 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 and arrived at Pensacola, FloridaPensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, 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 listNavy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
on 29 October 1946.