USS Lapwing (AVP-1) Class

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USS Sandpiper (AM-51) on 29 March 1926
Click on this photograph for links to larger images of this class.

Class:        LAPWING (AVP-1)
Design:        Navy AM-1
Displacement (tons):        888 light, 1,350 lim.
Dimensions (feet):        187.8' oa, 174.0' wl x 35.4' e x 13.1 lim.
Original Armament:        2-3"/50 (by 1941: all)
Later armaments:        2-3"/50 2-20mm (1942: AVP 3-6, 7, 9); 2-3"/50 4-20mm (1942-5: AVP 1-3, 6-7, 9);
1-3"/50 4-20mm (1943-45: AVP 4, 5, 9)
Complement:        --
Speed (kts.):        13.5
Propulsion (HP):        1,400
Machinery:        Vertical triple expansion, 2 screws

Construction:

AVP	Name	Reclas.	Builder	Keel	Launch	Commiss.
1	LAPWING	22 Jan 36	Todd SYs, Brooklyn	25 Oct 17	14 Mar 18	12 Jun 18
2	HERON	22 Jan 36	Standard SB, Shooters Is.	26 Aug 17	18 May 18	30 Oct 18
3	THRUSH	22 Jan 36	Pusey & Jones, Wilmington	27 May 18	15 Sep 18	25 Apr 19
4	AVOCET	22 Jan 36	Baltimore DD & SB	13 Sep 17	9 Mar 18	17 Sep 18
5	TEAL	22 Jan 36	Sun SB & DD	8 Oct 17	25 May 18	20 Aug 18
6	PELICAN	22 Jan 36	Gas Engine & Power	10 Nov 17	15 Jun 18	10 Oct 18
7	SWAN	22 Jan 36	Alabama DD & SB	10 Dec 17	4 Jul 18	31 Jan 19
8	GANNET	22 Jan 36	Todd SYs, Brooklyn	1 Oct 18	19 Mar 19	10 Jul 19
9	SANDPIPER	22 Jan 36	NYd Philadelphia	15 Nov 18	28 Apr 19	9 Oct 19

Disposition:

AVP	Name	Decomm.	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
1	LAPWING	29 Nov 45	19 Dec 45	19 Aug 46	MC/D	19 Aug 46
2	HERON	12 Feb 46	1 May 46	15 May 46	Trf.	--
3	THRUSH	13 Dec 45	8 Jan 46	14 Aug 46	MC/D	14 Aug 46
4	AVOCET	10 Dec 45	3 Jan 46	12 Dec 46	Sold	--
5	TEAL	23 Nov 45	5 Dec 45	19 Jan 48	MC/D	19 Jan 48
6	PELICAN	30 Nov 45	19 Dec 45	22 Nov 46	MC/D	22 Nov 46
7	SWAN	13 Dec 45	8 Jan 46	12 Oct 46	MC/D	12 Oct 46
8	GANNET	--	24 Jun 42	7 Jun 42	Lost	--
9	SANDPIPER	10 Dec 45	17 Apr 46	12 Oct 46	MC/D	12 Oct 46

Class Notes:
FY 1918. The U.S. Navy built a total of 49 minesweepers of the LAPWING (AM-1, "Bird") class during World War I (5 more were cancelled). After the war the requirement for minesweepers practically disappeared (only four "Birds" were still in the mine warfare force during the 1930s), but the ships were found useful for other purposes, particularly ocean towing and tending seaplanes and submarines (see the ASR-1 class). At the end of 1919, three of the "Birds" were assigned to duty supporting aircraft. Two of these pioneers, SANDPIPER (AM-51) and TEAL (AM-23), plus the much larger tender WRIGHT (AZ-1) took a notable role in Fleet Problem I in February 1923 by providing basing for 18 patrol planes of Scouting Plane Squadron 1 that participated in the defense of the Canal Zone against an aggressor force. The three converted "Birds," including GANNET (AM-41), remained active when many of the other units of their class were decommissioned in 1921-22. Seven others were later assigned to duty supporting aircraft: CURLEW and PELICAN in 1923, HERON and AVOCET in the Asiatic Fleet in 1924-5, SWAN in 1926, LAPWING in 1932, and THRUSH (AM-18) in 1935. On 22 Jan 36 the nine survivors (less CURLEW, which had been wrecked on 15 Dec 25) were reclassified with the new designator for small seaplane tenders, AVP 1-9. One other "Bird," OWL (AM-2) was assigned to aviation support duty at Norfolk from 1936 to 1941 and possibly earlier, but she was not reclassified AVP.

The aviation facilities of PELICAN were described thus circa 1942: She could tend six VPB (patrol bomber) type seaplanes for extended periods and twelve for short periods, was unable to carry a VPB type plane or a disassembled VPB plane on board, and could carry only minor spares for VPBs. One small single float seaplane could be carried and operated from the ship (as was done by GANNET in several interwar Aleutian expeditions). Hoisting facilities consisted of the after boom with a maximum capacity of 10,000 pounds. (TEAL'S boom, however, was reported in the same source as tested to 21,325 pounds, said to be barely enough to allow her to pick up a PBY type patrol plane and carry it on the main deck aft.) The ships carried aviation gasoline and lubricating oil and could refuel one plane from the ship and two from boat bowsers simultaneously. Extra accommodations were available for 14 squadron officers and 7 enlisted men.

When these ships were subordinated to aviation commands in the 1920s, their minesweeper hull numbers were painted out and they wore instead an aviation star on their bows. Hull numbers later reappeared alongside the stars, both before and after the ships were reclassified AVPs. The authorized armament of these ships of 2-3"/50 guns (both forward) was removed soon after World War I and stored ashore. The guns were re-installed at various times: HERON and AVOCET embarked theirs in 1928, SANDPIPER hers in 1932, TEAL and PELICAN in 1933, and THRUSH in 1935.

Ship Notes:

AVP	Name	Notes
1	LAPWING	Ex AM-1. Designated "mine sweeper for duty with aircraft" 22 Sep 31, recommissioned 1 Sep 32. Reclassified AVP-1 22 Jan 36.
2	HERON	Ex AM-10. Recommissioned 18 Dec 24 as an aircraft tender for the Asiatic Fleet. Designated "mine sweeper for duty with aircraft" 30 Apr 31. Reclassified AVP-2 22 Jan 36. Transferred through the Foreign Liquidation Commission to the Republic of China (purchased by Kiangnan Dockyard 25 Jul 47, departed Subic Bay 2 Sep 47).
3	THRUSH	Ex AM-18. Recommissioned 31 Oct 35 for duty with aircraft, reclassified AVP-3 22 Jan 36. Delivered to buyer 21 Aug 46. Merchant SEMPER PARATUS after sold.
4	AVOCET	Ex AM-19. Recommissioned 8 Sep 25 as an aircraft tender for the Asiatic Fleet, designated "mine Sweeper for duty with aircraft" 30 Apr 31, reclassified AVP-4 22 Jan 36. To MA but returned by them to the USN as scrap 14 Jun 46. Sold by the Navy for scrap, remained in ABS merchant ship listings to 1950.
5	TEAL	Ex AM-23. Modified for service as an aircraft tender after returning from Europe in November 1919, designated "mine sweeper for duty with aircraft" 30 Apr 31, reclassified AVP-5 22 Jan 36.
6	PELICAN	Ex AM-27. Assigned as tender at NAS Pearl Harbor 30 Apr 23, recommissioned 17 Aug 23. Designated "mine Sweeper for duty with aircraft" 30 Apr 31. Reclassified AVP-6 22 Jan 36. Disguised as a tuna clipper under the name NORMANDIE II and operated as a Q-ship from 26 May 42 to 16 Apr 43.
7	SWAN	Ex AM-34. Recommissioned 23 Jun 23 and assigned to the Washington Navy Yard but based at Quantico, Va., where she may have supported seaplane operations at Brown Field. By the spring of 1926 she was based at Coco Solo, Canal Zone, where she may have replaced the lost CURLEW as aircraft tender. Designated "mine sweeper for duty with aircraft" 30 Apr 31, reclassified AVP-7 22 Jan 36. Mercantile UMATILLA after sold.
8	GANNET	Ex AM-41. Assigned to duty with aircraft soon after arriving at San Diego in November 1919, designated "mine sweeper for duty with aircraft" 30 Apr 31, reclassified AVP-8 22 Jan 36. Torpedoed by U-653 off Bermuda.
9	SANDPIPER	Ex AM-51. Assigned to duty with aircraft upon initial commissioning in 1919, designated "mine sweeper for duty with aircraft" 30 Apr 31, reclassified AVP-9 22 Jan 36.