USS Miantonomah (ACM-13)

USS Miantonomah (ACM-13/MMA-13) was built as the US Army Mine Planter USAMP Col. Horace F. Spurgin (MP-14)[1][2] for the U.S. Army by Marietta Manufacturing Co., Point Pleasant, West Virginia, in 1943. Col. Horace F. Spurgin was christened by Mrs. Barbee Rothgeb.[5] Col. Horace F. Spurgin was transferred from the US Army to the US Navy and commissioned as ACM-13 on 25 January 1950.[3] After decommissioning and sale to commercial interests 17 February 1961, the ship remained in the fishing fleet into the 1990s before becoming part of a breakwater in Tacoma, Washington.[1][4]

For other ships with the same name, see USS Miantonomah.

USS Miantonomah (ACM-13)
Seen here as USAMP Col. Horace F. Spurgin (MP 14) US Navy photo from the March 1950 edition of All Hands magazine.
History
Name: USAMP Col. Horace F. Spurgin MP-14[1][2]
Namesake: Col. Horace Fletcher Spurgin, US Army Coast Artillery Corps
Ordered: 1942
Builder: Marietta Manufacturing Co., Point Pleasant, West Virginia, hull #487.[2]
Launched: 1943
Sponsored by: Mrs. Barbee Rothgeb
Notes: One of sixteen M1 Mine Planters ordered by US Army Coast Artillery Corps 1942–1943
Name: USS ACM-13[3]
Namesake: "A variant spelling of Miantonomoh (q.v.). The name was most likely assigned to commemorate the service of the previous ship of the name."[3]
Acquired: by the US Navy, as ACM-13, 25 January 1950
Commissioned: 25 January 1950
Decommissioned: 19 July 1955 at Terminal Island, Long Beach, California
Renamed: Miantonomah, 1 May 1955
Reclassified: MMA-13, 7 February 1955
Stricken: 1 July 1960
Identification: IMO number: 7307392
Fate: Incorporated into breakwater at Tyee Marina in Tacoma, Washington on 12 August 2009 after service as fishing vessel.[4]
General characteristics
Type: Auxiliary minelayer
Displacement: 910 long tons (925 t) light
Length: 189 ft (58 m)
Beam: 37 ft (11 m)
Draft: 12 ft (3.7 m)
Speed: 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement: 135

Army Service

USAMP Col. Horace F. Spurgin MP-14 is known to have served in Sausalito, California at Fort Baker's Submarine Mine Depot supporting the San Francisco Bay Coast Artillery defenses with the USAMP Gen. Samuel M. Mills.[1] The ship became the prototype for correction of a deficiency in engine order telegraphs to extend them to bridge wings. One commercial system was installed on USAMP Col. Alfred A. Maybach while a second, fabricated and installed by Chief Engineer CWO John B. May, aboard Col. Horace F. Spurgin became the recommended correction for all M1 type Mine Planters.[6]

Commissioned as ACM-13 at Treasure Island on 25 January 1950 under the command of Lt. Harold G. Gibson. Assigned to the 12th Naval District, based at US Naval Station, Treasure Island, California, the unnamed auxiliary minelayer operated out of San Francisco Bay along the California coast training for harbor defense. In addition she towed sea targets and supported fleet gunnery exercises.[3]

The ship was involved with the transition of harbor defense responsibilities from Army to Navy as shown in photographs in the March 1950 issue of All Hands magazine. The Fort Baker Submarine Mine Depot was in close proximity to the Naval School, Harbor Defense, Fort Winfield Scott, San Francisco, California in which Naval Reserve personnel were trained for duties previously performed by Army Coast Artillery Corps personnel. Both services would man the Harbor Entrance Control Post (HECP).[7]

On 7 February 1955 she reclassified to MMA-13, and on 1 May she was named Miantonomah. The newly renamed ship reported to the Long Beach Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet, to begin inactivation on 14 May. Miantonomah decommissioned at Terminal Island, Long Beach, California, 19 July 1955. She entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Long Beach. Her name was struck from the Navy List 1 July 1960 and she was sold to Hubert P. Sturdivant and Edward Madruga of San Diego, 17 February 1961. She was delivered to her purchaser on 28 February.[3]

Commercial Service

Became tuna fishing vessel Nautilus owned by Edward Madruga and Manuel Cintas. Sold and operated as Aleutian Mist and New Star in northern waters. New Star became part of the breakwater at Tyee Marina in Tacoma, Washington on 12 August 2009.[1][4]

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References
  1. "Coast Artillery Corps Army Mine Planter Service". Army Ships – The Ghost Fleet. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  2. "U.S. Army Mine Craft". Shipbuilding History. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  3. "Miantonomah". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS). Naval History & Heritage Command. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  4. Stubbs, Kyle (22 September 2009). "NEW STAR – IMO 7307392". Shipspotting.com. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  5. "The Maybach and the Spurgin". Coast Artillery Journal. 86 (1): 71. January–February 1943.
  6. "Seacoast Service Test Section: Wing Bridge Telegraphs For M1 Mine Planters". Coast Artillery Journal. 90 (2): 57. March–April 1947.
  7. "Learning How to Defend Our Harbors" (pdf). All Hands. Bureau of Naval Personnel (397): 23–26. March 1950. (File size: 29.5MB)
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