Rail II AMCU-37

Rail II

(AMCU-37: dp. 387, 1. 159'0", b. 23'8", dr. 5'8", s. 14 k.;
cpl. 40; a. 5 20mm.; cl. LCI (L)-351)

The second Rail was laid down as LCI(L)-1089 by the Albina Engine & Machinery Works, Portland, Oreg., 3 March 1944; launched 17 April 1944; and commissioned 18 May 1944.

After shakedown out of San Diego, she steamed for Pearl Harbor 15 July 1944. After proceeding to Milne Bay, she continued on to the Philippines, took part as a large infantry landing craft in the Ormoe Bay landing 7 December and the Mindoro landing 15 December. She then remained in the Philippines until the end of the war, departing Taeloban 5 September for Olinawa. She put into Shanghai before stenming for Pearl Harbor, San Pedro, Calif., the Canal Zone

and N ew Orleans, u here she arrived 20 May 1946 and reported to Commander, 8th Naval District, for inactivation. She was decommissioned 14 August 1946, and arrived at Mavport Fla., 20 Oetoher for layup at Green Cove Springs. She was redesignated LSIL-1022 on 28 Fehruary 1949. In February 1952 she was moved to Charleston and then New York. On 7 March 1952 she was reclassified a coastal minesweeper (unclerwater locator), redesignated AMCU-37 and renamed Rail. She was converted by the Brooklyn Naval Shipvard and reGommissioned Rail (AMCU-37) 1.i September 1952, Lt. L. El. Foisey in command.

After shakedown off Norfolk, Rail was assigned to Little Creek, Va., to evaluate new underv.ater mine-locating sonar equipment. In March 1953 she was ordered to U.S. Naval Mine Countermeasures Station in Panama Citv, Fla., for further sonar evaluation, returning to Little Creek in December.

In June 1954 Rail was ordered to Coco Solo, C.Z., and placed under operational control of the Commandant, 15th Naval District. On 7 February 1955, she was reclassified as a coastal minehunter (MElC-37). She operated out of Coco Solo and Guantanamo Bay, putting into Norfolk briefly 11 June l956 She returned to Coco Solo, where she remained until sailing north to Boston 4 September 1957. She decommissioned at New London Conn., 13 October 1957, and was struck from the Navy list 1 January 1960.

Rail earned two battle stars for World War II service.