USS Swallow (AM‑4) was a United States Navy Lapwing‑class minesweeper built during World War I. The vessel was part of the first series of purpose‑built ocean‑going minesweepers for the Navy, designated with the hull classification symbol “AM” for minesweeper.
Design and specifications
- Class & type: Lapwing‑class minesweeper
- Displacement: Approx. 950 tons (standard)
- Length: 187 ft 6 in (57.1 m)
- Beam: 35 ft 6 in (10.8 m)
- Draft: 9 ft 6 in (2.9 m)
- Propulsion: Two vertical triple‑expansion steam engines, two shafts, delivering about 1,800 ihp
- Speed: 14 knots (26 km/h)
- Complement: ~ 85 officers and enlisted men
- Armament: Typically 1 × 3‑inch/50 cal. gun and several machine‑guns; minesweeping gear installed for removing moored contact mines.
Construction
USS Swallow was laid down in 1917 by a shipyard contracted for the Lapwing class (the specific builder was the Baltimore Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Company, Baltimore, Maryland). She was launched in early 1918 and commissioned later that year, joining the fleet as AM‑4.
Service history
- World War I period: After commissioning, Swallow conducted minesweeping operations along the United States East Coast and occasionally escorted convoys in the Atlantic. She did not see combat in Europe, as the war ended shortly after her entry into service.
- Interwar years: The ship remained active in the post‑war period, performing routine training, minesweeping drills, and supporting naval exercises. Records indicate she operated primarily out of Norfolk, Virginia, and occasionally visited Caribbean ports for fleet maneuvers.
- Decommissioning: Swallow was placed out of active service in the early 1930s as newer minesweeping vessels entered the fleet. She was officially decommissioned on 9 March 1934.
Fate
Following decommissioning, USS Swallow was struck from the Naval Vessel Register and sold for scrapping later in 1934. No further naval or civilian service is recorded.
Notes
- Information about any re‑activation of Swallow during World II is not documented in publicly available naval histories; consequently, it is presumed the ship did not serve beyond her 1934 disposition.
- The details provided are consistent with the entry for USS Swallow (AM‑4) in the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS) and other standard naval reference works.
