USS Longspur (AMCU-28)

USS Longspur (AMCU-28) was a LCI(L)-351-class large landing craft of the United States Navy, later converted to a AMCU-7-class Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator).

For other ships with the same name, see USS Longspur.
History
United States
Name: USS Longspur
Builder: New Jersey Shipbuilding Company, Barber, New Jersey
Laid down: 22 September 1944
Launched: 20 October 1944
Commissioned: 27 October 1944, as USS LCI(L)-884
Decommissioned: 24 March 1947
Recommissioned: June 1952, as USS Longspur (AMCU-28)
Decommissioned: 1 January 1954
Reclassified:
  • AMCU-28, 7 March 1952
  • MHC-28, 7 February 1953
Honors and
awards:		 1 battle star (World War II)
Fate: Sold for scrap, 18 May 1960
General characteristics
Class and type: LCI(L)-351-class large landing craft
Displacement: 216 long tons (219 t)
Length: 158 ft 6 in (48.31 m)
Beam: 23 ft 3 in (7.09 m)
Draft: 3 ft 1.5 in (0.953 m)
Propulsion:
Speed: 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement: 2 officers, 21 enlisted
Armament: 4 × single 20 mm AA guns, one forward, one amidships, two aft, later added two .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns

The ship was laid down on 22 September 1944 by the New Jersey Shipbuilding Company of Barber, New Jersey, launched on 20 October 1944, and commissioned as USS LCI(L)-884 on 27 October 1944.

Service history

1944–1949

After shakedown LCI(L)-884 departed Norfolk, Virginia on 25 November, steamed through the Panama Canal, and arrived at San Diego, California on 20 December. Following additional training off the west coast, the landing craft sailed on 6 March 1945 for the Marianas, arriving at Guam on 8 April. Two weeks later she was en route to Okinawa, where U.S. Forces were already engaged in the most extensive campaign of the Pacific War.

Upon her arrival on 28 April LCI(L)-884 was assigned mail delivery and smoke station duty for large ships operating off Okinawa. She remained in the vicinity for the rest of the war, playing a part for the fleet in aiding it against the Empire of Japan.

After the war she operated as a mine destruction vessel out of Nagasaki and Sasebo, remaining in Japan until December 1945. Early in 1946, LCI(L)-884 returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 24 March 1947, joining the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Green Cove Springs, Florida. She was reclassified as Landing Ship, Infantry (Large) LSI(L)-884 on 28 February 1949.

1952–1960

LSI(L)-884 was named and redesignated as Coastal minesweeper (Underwater Locator) USS Longspur (AMCU-28) on 7 March 1952, and recommissioned in June 1952. Conversion to AMCU-28 began on 15 November 1953 at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, South Carolina, and was completed on 15 May 1954. Longspur was then assigned to the 6th Naval District for harbor defense. Reclassified as Coastal Minehunter MHC-28 on 7 February 1953, she continued operations out of Charleston, South Carolina, until 1 January 1954.

Decommissioned on the first day of the year, she joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Charleston, South Carolina. Struck from the Navy List on 1 January 1960, Longspur was sold to the Mills Marine Co., on 18 May 1960, and was towed away for scrap on 22 June 1960.

LCI(L)-884 received one battle star for World War II service.

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References
  • Photo gallery of USS Longspur (LCI(L)-884/LSIL-884/AMCU-28) at NavSource Naval History


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