USS Incredible (AM-249) was an Admirable-classminesweeper built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was built to clear minefields in offshore waters, and served the Navy in the North Atlantic Ocean and then in the Pacific Ocean. She returned home, finishing the war with two battle stars to her credit. When she was recalled for duty in the Korean War, she returned home again with four more battle stars.
After shakedown along the U.S. East Coast and in the Caribbean, Incredible departed Norfolk, Virginia, 24 July, escorting a convoy to North Africa for the invasion of southern France, the Allies landing 15 August. She carried out her sweeping duties very effectively, sometimes without destroyer cover. On 10 September Incredible and her group repelled an attack of 12 human torpedoes, 2 of which she destroyed. She continued her minesweeping duties off southern France until 18 January 1945 when she sailed for a special mission to Russia and the Black Sea. Incredible performed sweeping duties out of Sevastopol, Russia, then served as an air-sea rescue patrol ship in the Black Sea until resuming to Palermo, Sicily, 20 February.
Incredible returned to Norfolk 5 May; and, after overhaul, departed 23 July for duty in the Pacific. She arrived Pearl Harbor eight days after the fighting stopped via the Panama Canal Zone and San Diego, California. The minesweeper sailed from Pearl Harbor 31 August for Operation Skagway, clearing the minefields in the East China Sea-Ryukyus area. This important duty lasted until 17 February 1946 when she returned to San Pedro, Los Angeles. She remained there until she decommissioned at Puget Sound 6 November, joining the Reserve Fleet. From 28 November 1947 to 28 September 1949 Incredible was "In Service, out of commission", based at Yokosuka, Japan.
Incredible was recommissioned 14 August 1950 at Yokosuka and departed 18 September for minesweeping and patrol duties in the Pusan area. While on patrol in mine-infested waters, on 12 October she rescued 27 survivors from USS Pirate (AM-275) which had struck a mine. Delivering her passengers to safety, she continued her operations in the battle zone, sweeping harbors and serving on patrol and escort duty. Returning to Yokosuka, Japan, Incredible sailed for Long Beach, California, arriving 4 August 1951.
The minesweeper operated along the U.S. West Coast and out of Pearl Harbor until 6 August 1953 when she sailed for the Far East. For the remainder of the year she operated out of Japan and on patrol along the coast of Korea
Incredible returned to Long Beach 11 March 1954 and was decommissioned there 21 September, again joining the Reserve Fleet. Reclassified MSF-249, 7 February 1955, Incredible remained in the Long Beach Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet until she was struck from the Navy List 1 December 1959. She was sold 8 August 1960 to National Metal and Steel Corp., Terminal Island, California.
Awards and honorsedit
Incredible received two battle stars for World War II service and four for Korean service.
Photo gallery of Incredible at NavSource Naval History
May 02, 2024
incredible, admirable, class, minesweeper, built, navy, during, world, built, clear, minefields, offshore, waters, served, navy, north, atlantic, ocean, then, pacific, ocean, returned, home, finishing, with, battle, stars, credit, when, recalled, duty, korean,. USS Incredible AM 249 was an Admirable class minesweeper built for the U S Navy during World War II She was built to clear minefields in offshore waters and served the Navy in the North Atlantic Ocean and then in the Pacific Ocean She returned home finishing the war with two battle stars to her credit When she was recalled for duty in the Korean War she returned home again with four more battle stars History United States NameUSS Incredible BuilderSavannah Machine and Foundry Company Laid down9 September 1943 Launched21 November 1943 Commissioned17 April 1944 Decommissioned6 November 1946 Recommissioned14 August 1950 Decommissioned21 September 1954 Stricken1 December 1959 FateSold for scrap 1 December 1960 General characteristics Class and typeAdmirable class minesweeper Displacement650 tons Length184 ft 6 in 56 24 m Beam33 ft 10 m Draft9 ft 9 in 2 97 m Propulsion2 ALCO 539 diesel engines 1 710 shp 1 3 MW Farrel Birmingham single reduction gear 2 shafts Speed14 8 knots 27 4 km h Complement104 Armament1 3 50 caliber gun DP 2 twin Bofors 40 mm guns 1 Hedgehog anti submarine mortar 2 Depth charge tracks Service record Part of US Atlantic Fleet 1944 45 US Pacific Fleet 1945 46 1950 54 Pacific Reserve Fleet 1946 50 1954 59 Operations Operation Dragoon Korean WarAwards 2 Battle stars World War II 4 Battle stars Korean War Contents 1 History 1 1 World War II 1 2 Korean War operations 2 Awards and honors 3 References 4 External linksHistory editIncredible was launched 21 November 1943 by Savannah Machine amp Foundry Co Savannah Georgia sponsored by Mrs Herbert Hezlep and commissioned 17 April 1944 World War II edit After shakedown along the U S East Coast and in the Caribbean Incredible departed Norfolk Virginia 24 July escorting a convoy to North Africa for the invasion of southern France the Allies landing 15 August She carried out her sweeping duties very effectively sometimes without destroyer cover On 10 September Incredible and her group repelled an attack of 12 human torpedoes 2 of which she destroyed She continued her minesweeping duties off southern France until 18 January 1945 when she sailed for a special mission to Russia and the Black Sea Incredible performed sweeping duties out of Sevastopol Russia then served as an air sea rescue patrol ship in the Black Sea until resuming to Palermo Sicily 20 February Incredible returned to Norfolk 5 May and after overhaul departed 23 July for duty in the Pacific She arrived Pearl Harbor eight days after the fighting stopped via the Panama Canal Zone and San Diego California The minesweeper sailed from Pearl Harbor 31 August for Operation Skagway clearing the minefields in the East China Sea Ryukyus area This important duty lasted until 17 February 1946 when she returned to San Pedro Los Angeles She remained there until she decommissioned at Puget Sound 6 November joining the Reserve Fleet From 28 November 1947 to 28 September 1949 Incredible was In Service out of commission based at Yokosuka Japan Among her crew was Lee Van Cleef who after the war became an actor known for his roles in Spaghetti Westerns Korean War operations edit Incredible was recommissioned 14 August 1950 at Yokosuka and departed 18 September for minesweeping and patrol duties in the Pusan area While on patrol in mine infested waters on 12 October she rescued 27 survivors from USS Pirate AM 275 which had struck a mine Delivering her passengers to safety she continued her operations in the battle zone sweeping harbors and serving on patrol and escort duty Returning to Yokosuka Japan Incredible sailed for Long Beach California arriving 4 August 1951 The minesweeper operated along the U S West Coast and out of Pearl Harbor until 6 August 1953 when she sailed for the Far East For the remainder of the year she operated out of Japan and on patrol along the coast of KoreaIncredible returned to Long Beach 11 March 1954 and was decommissioned there 21 September again joining the Reserve Fleet Reclassified MSF 249 7 February 1955 Incredible remained in the Long Beach Group Pacific Reserve Fleet until she was struck from the Navy List 1 December 1959 She was sold 8 August 1960 to National Metal and Steel Corp Terminal Island California Awards and honors editIncredible received two battle stars for World War II service and four for Korean service References editThis article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here External links editPhoto gallery of Incredible at NavSource Naval History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Incredible amp oldid 1152190333, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
