Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Soviet minesweeper T 116

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Name
  
USS Arcade (AMc-120)

Completed
  
26 August 1943

Launched
  
7 December 1942

Weight
  
660.4 tons

Laid down
  
8 June 1942

Construction started
  
8 June 1942

Length
  
56 m

Builder
  
Tampa Shipbuilding Company

Reclassified
  
AM-143, 21 February 1942

Fate
  
Transferred to the Soviet Union, 26 August 1943

T-116 was a minesweeper of the Soviet Navy during World War II and the Cold War. She had originally been built as USS Arcade (AM-143), an Admirable-class minesweeper, for the United States Navy during World War II, but never saw active service in the U.S. Navy. Upon completion she was transferred to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease as T-116; she was never returned to the United States. The ship was renamed several times in Soviet service and was scrapped on 4 May 1963. Because of the Cold War, the U.S. Navy was unaware of this fate and the vessel remained on the American Naval Vessel Register until she was struck on 1 January 1983.

Career

Arcade was laid down on 8 June 1942 at Tampa, Florida, by the Tampa Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 7 December 1942; sponsored by Miss V. Zoll; and completed on 26 August 1943. She was transferred to the Soviet Navy that same day as T-116. She was never returned to U.S. custody.

On 5 September 1944, while on patrol in Kara Sea, T-116 attacked and sunk with depth charges the German submarine U-362.

In Soviet service the ship was renamed TB-23 on 11 July 1956, and SM-7 on 23 October 1962. The ship was eventually scrapped on 4 May 1963.

Due to the ongoing Cold War, the U.S. Navy was unaware of this fate. They had reclassified the vessel as MSF-143 on 7 February 1955, and kept her on the American Naval Vessel Register until she was struck on 1 January 1983.

References

Soviet minesweeper T-116 Wikipedia