About this Unit
USS Ptarmigan (AM-376) was an Auk-class minesweeper commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945. After her commissioning, she served in the Pacific Theater during the final months of World War II, conducting minesweeping operations around Japanese and Korean waters to ensure safe passage for Allied vessels. Following the war, Ptarmigan continued her service during the Korean War, where she played a vital role in clearing mines off the Korean coast to support United Nations naval operations. The ship was eventually decommissioned and transferred to the Republic of Korea Navy in 1963, where she continued to serve under a new designation.
Historical Facts
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World War II Service: USS Ptarmigan (AM-376) was an Auk-class minesweeper commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945, near the end of World War II. She was designed to clear minefields in offshore waters.
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Launch and Commissioning: The ship was launched on 4 November 1944 by Savannah Machine & Foundry Company in Savannah, Georgia, and commissioned on 15 May 1945.
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Pacific Theater Operations: After shakedown, USS Ptarmigan was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, arriving in Sasebo, Japan, in September 1945 to conduct post-war minesweeping operations in Japanese waters.
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Dangerous Missions: Minesweeping was a hazardous duty, as the crew often worked in waters recently held by enemy forces and filled with deadly mines.
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Korean War Reactivation: The ship was decommissioned in 1947 but recommissioned for service in the Korean War in 1950. Ptarmigan cleared mines along the Korean coast, often under the threat of enemy fire.
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Battle Effectiveness: USS Ptarmigan earned five battle stars for her Korean War service, highlighting her active and significant role in the conflict.
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International Service: After her U.S. Navy career, Ptarmigan was transferred to the Republic of Korea Navy in 1963, where she served as ROKS Imchin (PCE-1001).
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Minesweeper Class: As an Auk-class minesweeper, Ptarmigan was part of one of the largest and most successful classes of oceangoing minesweepers built for the U.S. Navy during WWII.
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Ship’s Name: The vessel was named after the ptarmigan, a hardy bird found in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, reflecting the Navy’s tradition of naming minesweepers after birds.
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Legacy: USS Ptarmigan’s dual service in both World War II and the Korean War, followed by her later use by an allied navy, exemplifies the adaptability and long-term value of mid-20th-century naval vessels.
