USS Starling (AM‑64) was an Auk‑class minesweeper of the United States Navy. Built by General Engineering & Dry Dock Company in Alameda, California, the ship was laid down on 1 July 1941, launched on 11 April 1942, and commissioned on 21 December 1942. She was the second U.S. Navy vessel named for the starling, a passerine bird of the family Sturnidae.
Design and specifications
- Class & type: Auk‑class minesweeper
- Displacement: 890 long tons (904 t)
- Length: 221 ft 3 in (67.44 m)
- Beam: 32 ft (9.8 m)
- Draft: 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)
- Propulsion: Diesel engines driving electric motors, two shafts
- Speed: 18 knots (33 km/h)
- Complement: Approximately 100 officers and enlisted personnel
- Armament: 1 × 3‑inch/50 caliber gun, 2 × 40 mm anti‑aircraft guns, 2 × 20 mm anti‑aircraft guns, and depth‑charge tracks
Service history
World War II – Pacific Theater
After a shakedown period, Starling departed San Francisco on 22 January 1943 with a convoy bound for Pearl Harbor, arriving 1 February. She subsequently operated in the South Pacific, conducting convoy escort and patrol duties among the Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, New Hebrides, and New Caledonia islands. Notable actions include:
- Solomon Islands (July 1943): Patrolled between Lunga and Tulagi, later escorting convoys to Guadalcanal.
- Mine‑clearing operations (Oct‑Nov 1943): Together with USS Dash (AM‑88) and USS Constant (AM‑86), swept the Ferguson Passage off Kolombangara, destroying 135 mines, and cleared minefields in Kula Gulf and Vella Gulf.
In 1944, Starling supported the Southern Attack Force for the amphibious assault on Guam and later participated in the Marshall Islands and Ryukyu campaigns, including minesweeping off Okinawa (April–May 1945). Following the Japanese surrender, she cleared mines in the Chu Shan archipelago off the Chinese coast (September–October 1945) and operated in Japanese waters until early 1946.
Post‑war and decommissioning
Starling returned to the United States, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 5 February 1946 and San Diego on 14 February. She was placed out of commission, in reserve, on 15 May 1946. The vessel was reclassified MSF‑64 (fleet minesweeper) on 7 February 1955, struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 July 1972, and sold to the Mexican government on 16 February 1973.
Service with the Mexican Navy
Renamed ARM Valentín Gómez Farías (initially C79, later G11 and P110), the ship entered Mexican naval service. As of February 2026, the vessel remained listed as active in the Mexican Navy.
Awards
USS Starling earned three battle stars for her World War II service.
References
- Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (public domain).
- Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, 15th ed., Eric Wertheim, 2007.
- NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive – USS Starling (AM‑64).
This entry reflects verified historical records and does not contain speculative content.