Threat AM-124

Threat

(AM-124: dp. 890; 1. 221'2"; b. 32'2"; dr. 10'9"; s. 18.1 k.; cpl. 106; a. 2 3", 4 20mm., 2 .30-car. mg., 2 dct.,4 dcp.; cl. Auk)

Threat (AM-124) was laid down on 16 December 1941 at Savannah, Gal, by the Savannah Machine and Foundry Co., launched on 15 August 1942, sponsored by Mrs. Allan M. Robinson, and commissioned on 14 March 1943, Comdr. Allan M. Bobinson, USNR, in command

In March and April of 1943 Threat completed shakedown and exercises off the east coast as she prepared for duty as a convoy escort on the Eastern Sea Frontier. During April, the minesweeper escorted convoys along the Atlantic coast, and, on 11 May, she got underway for her first transatlantic voyage. The convoy arrived at Casablanca on 1 June 1943; and, on 9 June, Threat departed North Africa with a convoy bound for Ne~v York. Throughout 1943, she continued escort duties in the Atlantic, completing three voyages to North Africa and numerous convoy shuttles along the Eastern Sea Frontier and into the Caribbean.

Early in 1944, Threat helped to protect a convoy as it steamed via the Azores to the British Isles. After this mission, Threat remained in the Falmouth area for repair. In April and May, she operated out of Batten Bay and conducted exercises with ships of the British Royal Navy in preparation for Operation "Overlord," the invasion of Europe.

On 2 June 1944, the ship was sealed and briefing commenced. On 5 June 1944, Threat departed Tor Bay with a minesweeper unit to take part in Operation "Neptune," the assault phase of "Overlord." Threat helped clear the channels to be used by fire support vessels in the Baie de la Seine. In the days which followed, Threat witnessed the sinking by mines of Glennon (DD-620), Tide (AM-124), and Rich (DE-696)

On 8 June, while aiding the disabled Rich, Threat narrowly missed becoming the victim of a mine which sank the destroyer escort off Cardonet Bank.

A shore battery fired on Threat as she was running acoustic and magnetic sweeps off Cherbourg on 9 June. The doughty sweeper returned the fire with her 3-inch gun, silencing two shore gun employments and blowing up a small ammunition dump. Commander, Mine Squadron 7, commended Threat for her performance that day and gave special praise to the smart ship-handling operations entailed. Throughout June Threat continued to sweep waters off the French coast occasionally drawing fire from German shore batteries but escaping unscathed. While she swept channels for fire support ships in preparation for the bombardment of Cherbourg, she was subjected to heavy fire from enemy shore emplacements. In July, Threat conducted daily sweeps of the Baie de la Seine, necessitated by the delayed action and time release settings of mines left by the German forces.

After replenishment at Plymouth late in July, Threat returned to the Mediterranean. In August, she escorted convoys between Gibraltar and North Africa before proceeding to Corsica where she cleared shipping channels despite the activity of enemy aircraft. On 19 August, she got underway for assault areas on the southern coast of France. Operating out of St. Tropez and the Golfe de Fos, Threat conducted support activities for Operation "Anvil."

In September, Threat continued sweeps, patrols, and minewatching missions off the southern coast of France. Following a quick run to Naples for provisions and fuel, she returned to the French coast to supply YMS's and to continue minesweeping. Early in October Threat escorted a convoy to Bizerte before engaging in visual sweeps for mines off the German-held ltalian coast While pursuing her minesweeping duties, Threat exchanged gunfire with enemy shore batteries on more than one occasion before returning to French waters late in October.

Throughout November, Threat operated off France's southern coast. She cleared fire support channels and patrolled for floating mines in the area between Cannes and San Remo, before departing Cannes on 27 November 1944 for provisioning and ammunition replenishment at Bizerte.

The sweeper continued operations in the western Mediterranean in December. Early in the month, she swept mines off Cagliari, Sardinia, and, on 28 December, she departed Oran, escorting TG 81.14 bound for American ports. On 17 January 1946, she arrived at Norfolk after nearly a year of action in European waters.

Threat remained on the east coast for major overhaul and the installation of SA-2 radar until 26 April when she departed Miami and steamed, via the Canal Zone and San Diego for Hawaii. She arrived at Pearl Harbor on 26 May 1946 and commenced gunnery and minesweeping exercises in preparation for her new assignment in the Pacific. On 11 June, she got underway for Ulithi where she rendezvoused with a convoy en route to Okinawa.

After her arrival at Buckner Bay on 6 July, threat soon joined sweeping operations in the China Sea. She continued these duties after peace came in August and, in September, took part in the clearing of heavily mined Tsugaru Strait in preparation for the naval occupation of Ominato Bay. Through October and November, Threat continued sweeps in the East China Sea operating out of Honshu and Sasebo. In December, she plied the waters off Shanghai before setting course for San Diego and inactivation.

Threat was decommissioned on 31 May 1946, reclassified as a steel-hulled fleet minesweeper (MSF-124) on 7 February 1966, and struck from the Navy list on 1 July 1972.

Threat received three battle stars for World War II service.