USS Chimango (AMc-42) 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. The vessel was named after the chimango, a medium-sized South American bird of prey.

History
United States
NameChimango
NamesakeBird: Chimango
Laid downdate unknown
Launched8 March 1941
Commissioned3 June 1941
Decommissioned15 June 1942
In service15 June 1942
Out of service20 December 1945
Strickendate unknown
FateTransferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal 21 August 1947
General characteristics
Displacement205 tons
Length97 ft 5 in (29.69 m)
Beam22 ft 5 in (6.83 m)
Draft8 ft 11 in (2.72 m)
Speed10.0 knots
Complement17
Armamenttwo .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns

The first ship to be named Chimango by the Navy, AMC-42 was launched 8 March 1941 by Gibbs Gas Engine Co., Jacksonville, Florida, and commissioned 3 June 1941.

World War II service

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Chimango had training at Mine Warfare Base, Yorktown, Virginia, until 26 July 1941 when she rendezvoused with USS Goldfinch (AM-77) and USS Jacamar (AMc-47) to sail to Argentia, Newfoundland.

From 2 August she operated off this new base laying buoys, taking part in minesweeping exercises, and recovering gear in Placentia Bay, until 5 October when she sailed for Casco Bay, Maine, and sweeping operations and patrols along the Maine coast. She also received aboard daily armed guard parties from merchant ships for instruction.

Inservice activities

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On 15 June 1942 she was decommissioned but placed in service, and continued to operate on minesweeping and patrol duty at New York and Charleston, South Carolina, until 20 December 1945.

Deactivation

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She was transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal 21 August 1947.

References

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  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

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