Definition
USS Impervious was a United States Navy Admirable‑class minesweeper (hull classification symbol AM‑246, later redesignated MSF‑246) that served during World War II and the early Cold War period.
Overview
The vessel was laid down on 9 February 1943 at the Savannah Machine & Foundry Company in Savannah, Georgia, launched on 9 June 1943, and commissioned on 24 October 1943. After shakedown training, Impervious operated primarily in the Atlantic and Caribbean theaters, conducting minesweeping, escort, and anti‑submarine duties. In 1945 she participated in the clearance of minefields in the approaches to the Panama Canal and later performed patrol and training missions out of Norfolk, Virginia. The ship was decommissioned on 26 February 1947, entered the reserve fleet, and was reclassified as a fleet minesweeper (MSF‑246) on 7 February 1955. Impervious remained in reserve until struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 July 1963 and subsequently sold for scrap.
Etymology/Origin
The name “Impervious” derives from the English adjective meaning “incapable of being penetrated or affected,” reflecting the Navy’s tradition of assigning abstract qualities—particularly those implying resilience or protection—to minesweepers and other auxiliary vessels.
Characteristics
- Class & Type: Admirable‑class minesweeper (later fleet minesweeper)
- Displacement: Approximately 625 tons standard, 945 tons full load
- Dimensions: Length 184 ft (56 m); beam 33 ft (10 m); draft 9 ft (2.7 m)
- Propulsion: Two ALCO 539 diesel engines, 1,800 bhp, driving two shafts
- Speed: 15 knots (28 km/h)
- Complement: 104 officers and enlisted personnel
- Armament (as built): One 3‑inch/50 caliber gun, two 40 mm anti‑aircraft guns, eight 20 mm AA guns, and depth‑charge projectors; equipped with mechanical minesweeping gear and later fitted with acoustic and magnetic sweep equipment.
- Operational Role: Detection and clearance of naval mines, convoy escort, anti‑submarine warfare, and training exercises.
Related Topics
- Admirable‑class minesweepers
- United States Navy minesweeping operations in World War II
- Naval ship naming conventions of the United States Navy
- Savannah Machine & Foundry Company shipbuilding history
- List of ships transferred to the reserve fleet after World War II.