Project AM-278

Project



(AM-278: dp. 850,1. 184'6", b. 33', dr. 9'9", s. 15 k., cpl.
104, a. 1 3"; cl. Admirable)

Project (AM-278) was laid down 1 July 1943 by Gulf Ship-Building Corp., Chiekasaw, Ala., Iaunched 20 November 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Irene D. Jenkins; and commissioned 22 August 1944.

Project departed U.S. Naval Repair Station Algiers, La. 7 September for Little Creek, Va. Enroute, sie drove off submarine U-618 after it had torpedoed SS George Ade 125 miles off Wilmington 12 September. Later operations for the minesweeper ranged from Portland, Me., where she trained with friendly submarines in October, to Cape Charles, Va. where she planted small mines, to Port Royal, Bermuda, to which she escorted Keau~ah and Sapelo in December.

Project continued Atlantic coast operations during the first half of 1945 but in July proceeded via the Canal Zone to San Pedro, Calif. Engaging in minesweeping operations off California in August, the ship steamed to Pearl Harbor the 24th and on to Eniwetok and Sainan in September. After stopping at Buckner Bay, she reached Japan on the 20th.

Project remained in Japanese waters in eonneetion with Japanese minesweeping activity and to make exploratory sweeps in the Omai Saki area. Decommissioning 13 June 1964 at Subie Bay, she was struck from the Navy Register 16 September 1947 and was transferred to the Philippines 24 May 1948. She continued operations with that country as Samar (M-33).

Project received one battle star for World War II service.