Ruddy AM-380

Ruddy

(AM-380: dp. 890,1. 221'2"; b. 32'2"; dr. 11'; s. 18 k., cpl.
105; a. 1 3", 2 40mm., 2 dct., 5 dcp.; cl. Auk)

Ruddy (AM-380) was laid down on 24 February 1944 by the Gulf Shipbuilding Corp., Chiekasaw, Ala.; launched 29 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. John Zeralis; and commissioned 28 April 1945, Lt. Comdr. William H. Rothwell II, USNR, in command.

After commissioning, Ruddy completed shakedown in Chesapeake Bay and on 27 July 1945 departed Little Creek, Va., for Okinawa. Arriving at Buckner Bay on 27 September, she escorted Millicoma (AO-73) to Sasebo, Japan, destroying two Japanese mines with.rifle fire en route. During October, she returned to the Ryukyus; but, on the 26th, was back off Sasebo to commence sweeping operations in the "Klondike" area off that port. Detsehed on 8 November, she provided courier service; supervised YMS operations, and carried freight between Okinawa and Sasebo until the new year. In January 1946, she again conducted minesweeping operations.

On 17 February, Ruddy sailed for the Marshalls. At Bikini from 7 to 24 March, she supervised buoy-layinK activities in preparation for Operation "Crossroads," the July 1946 atomic tests, then continued on to the United States. Reaehing San Pedro on 23 April, the minesweeper was decommissioned at San Diego on 15 January 1947 and berthed with the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

Recommissioned on 12 March1952, Ruddy joined Mine Division 72 and, after 11 months of mine warfare exercises and fleet amphibious operations, sailed from Long Beaeh in February 1953 for the Korean combat zone. She arrived off Wonsan, North Korea on 15 Marchand began operations as a unit of the U.N. Bioekade and Escort Force. On the 16th she transported prisoners of war to Yo Do, then returned to Wonsan, whence, for 6 weeks, she conducted inshore patrols. Three weeks of voyage repairs at Yokosuka followed. She then steamed for Inehon and patrol duty along the peninsula's western coast. In mid July, Ruddy returned to Japan. Fourteen days later, the truce went into effect, and, at the end of the month, the minesweeper was at Niigata, Japan, to participate in the Perry Expedition Centennial celebration. In mid-August, she returned to Korea for patrol duty off Cheju Do, and, on 4 September, she departed Sasebo for California, arriving at Long Beach on the 27th.

For the next 16 months, Ruddy engaged in type training and taeties along the California coast. On 20 January 1955 she headed west for another tour in the Far East. Eighteen days later, while still in transit, she was redesignated MSF380.

MSF-380 arrived at Sasebo on the 16th of February and, until 10 August, ranged from Japan to the Philippines in operations with the 7th Fleet. She returned to California on 5 September and resumed local operations. With the new year, 1956, she began inactivation. Decommissioned at San Diego on 31 August 1956, Ruddy was berthed with the Pacific Reserve Fleet until 1 November 1960 when she transferred, under the terms of the military assistance program, to the government of Peru

Ruddy (AM-380) earned one battle star for post-World War II minesweeping operations and two for her service during the Korean War.