USS Buoyant

History
United States
Name	USS Buoyant (AM-153)
Builder	Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon
Laid down	15 April 1942
Launched	24 November 1942
Commissioned	30 September 1943
Decommissioned	29 May 1946
Fate	Sold to the Republic of China, 29 May 1946
History
Taiwan
Name	unknown
Acquired	29 May 1946
Fate	unknown
General characteristics
Class and type	Admirable-class minesweeper
Displacement	650 tons
Length	184 ft 6 in (56.24 m)
Beam	33 ft (10 m)
Draft	9 ft 9 in (2.97 m)
Propulsion	2 × ALCO 539 diesel engines, 1,710 shp (1.3 MW) Farrel-Birmingham single reduction gear 2 shafts
Speed	14.8 knots (27.4 km/h)
Complement	104
Armament	1 × 3"/50 caliber gun DP 2 × twin Bofors 40 mm guns 1 × Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar 2 × Depth charge tracks
Service record
Part of:	U.S. Pacific Fleet (1943-1946) Republic of China Navy (1946–unknown)
Operations:	Battle of Okinawa
Awards:	1 Battle star

USS Buoyant (AM-153) was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. After service in the Pacific, which netted her crew one battle star, she was decommissioned in May 1946 and sold to the Republic of China. Her name in Republic of China Navy service and her fate are not reported in secondary sources.

Career

Buoyant was launched 24 November 1942 by Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon, and commissioned 30 September 1943.

Buoyant arrived at Adak, Alaska, 30 December 1943 and engaged in escort duty along the Aleutian chain, making frequent stops at Kodiak, Dutch Harbor, Sand Bay, Amchitka, Adak, and Attu until 1 July 1944. In July she sailed to San Francisco, California, for a three-week availability at Treasure Island, California. On 1 August 1944 she escorted a convoy to Eniwetok via Pearl Harbor. On 4 September, at Saipan, she was assigned to the Forward Area Escort and Patrol Group. The ensuing six months were spent on the sea lanes between Saipan and Eniwetok providing escort protection for submarines, transports, and merchant ships.

Buoyant arrived off Kiese Shima, Okinawa, 31 March 1945 and assisted in the assault and occupation of Okinawa (31 March-31 May). During this period she took part in several sweeping operations. The ship returned to the United States 7 July. On 17 September she sailed for Pearl Harbor, the first leg of a voyage back to the Far East.

Buoyant arrived at Yokohama, Japan, 15 December 1945 and later moved to Sasebo, Japan, where she operated in support of the occupation until 8 March 1946. Arriving 13 March at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, she reported to Commander, Philippine Sea Frontier; was demilitarized; and sailed for Shanghai, China, in April 1946.

Buoyant was decommissioned, 29 May 1946 at Shanghai, China and sold by the Office of Foreign Liquidation Commission the same day for transfer to the Republic of China. Fate unknown.

Buoyant received one battle star for her World War II service.

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - Buoyant (AM-153) - ex-AMc-130