Overview
USS Swerve (AM-121) was an acquired by the United States Navy during World War II. She was launched in 1943 and commissioned early the next year. Swerve saw service in the Mediterranean, and was sunk by a mine in the Tyrrhenian Sea in July 1944.
Construction and commissioning
Swerve was the first U.S. Navy vessel so named. She was laid down on 27 May 1942 by John H. Mathis & Company, Camden, New Jersey; launched on 25 February 1943; sponsored by Ms. E. C. Draemel; and commissioned on 23 January 1944. Swerve held sea trials from 1–14 February and sailed for Little Creek, Virginia, on the 15th to begin her shakedown cruise. Most of March was spent in a post-shakedown availability and in training.
Deployment
On 29 March, as a member of Mine Division 18 (MinDiv 18), she sailed to Charleston, South Carolina. Swerve stood out of Charleston on 7 April as an escort for convoy CK-2 en route to Bermuda. The convoy arrived there on the 18th, and on 8 May sailed to the Azores. Swerve called at Gibraltar and proceeded to Naples, Italy.
Italian coast minesweeping
The minesweeper sailed for Palermo, Sicily on 20 May and arrived there the next day. She made a voyage to Bizerte and returned to Naples. The ship sailed for Anzio on 4 June, and arrived off the beach the next day. Swerve remained off Anzio from 5–18 June. The ship was under enemy air attacks on the 5th and 9th but was not damaged. On the 19th, she sailed to Malta – via Naples – for degaussing. Training exercises were held off Salerno from 22 June — 4 July. The next day, the minesweeper sailed for Anzio again.
Sinking by sea mine
Swerve was sweeping mines off Anzio on 9 July when, at 13:00, she struck a mine. There was an underwater explosion under her port quarter, and three minutes later, she had a 10° list to port. The order was given to abandon ship at 13:07, and — one minute later — the port rail was under water. The ship continued turning slowly and sinking by the stern. Fifteen minutes after hitting the mine, Swerves bow was up with the stern resting on the bottom. An hour later, the ship sank from sight. Three men died as a result. Swerve was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 22 August 1944.
Awards
Swerve received one battle star for her World War II service.
External links
*Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 AM-121 USS Swerve * * http://www.uss-swerve.com uss-swerve.com, a site for veterans and families of the USS Swerve AM-121