USS Merit

USS Merit (AMc-90) 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.

Accentor-class minesweeper, sister ship Memorable
History
United States
Builder	Fulton Shipyard
Laid down	15 August 1941
Launched	4 January 1942
In service	28 March 1942
Out of service	10 December 1945
Stricken	8 May 1946
Fate	transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wild Life Service
General characteristics
Displacement	173 tons
Length	97 ft (30 m)
Beam	22 ft (6.7 m)
Draft	9 ft (2.7 m)
Speed	10 knots
Complement	17
Armament	Two machine guns

Merit was laid down 15 August 1941 by Fulton Shipyard, Antioch, California; launched 4 January 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Walter H. Eels; and placed in service 28 March 1942.

World War II service

After shakedown along the coast of California, the new coastal minesweeper was assigned to the Western Sea Frontier force. Transferred 16 March 1943 to Naval Local Defense Force, 12th Naval District, she continued her sweeps and patrols to protect San Francisco Harbor as a major departure point for men and materials to the Pacific fighting fronts.

Post-war inactivation and disposal

Regarded as surplus following V-J Day, she was placed out of service 10 December 1945 and struck from the Navy list 8 May 1946. Eight months later Merit transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wild Life Service.

References

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

External links

• Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
• Photo gallery of USS Merit at NavSource Naval History