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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

Lapwing (AVP 1)



Call sign:
Nan - Able - Love - Charlie

ex-AM-1
ex-Minesweeper No. 1



Call sign (1919):
George - Tare - Sail - Mike
Lapwing Class Minesweeper:

  • The first Lapwing was laid down 25 October 1917 by the Todd Shipyard Co., NY
  • Launched 14 March 1918
  • Commissioned USS Lapwing, Minesweeper No.1, 12 June 1918
  • Designated AM-1, 17 February 1920
  • Decommissioned 11 April 1922 at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii
  • Recommissioned 1 September 1932 and converted to a Small Seaplane Tender, AVP-1
  • Decommissioned 29 November 1945 at Charleston, SC
  • Struck from the Navy Register in August 1946 and transferred to the War Shipping Administration for disposal
  • Sold 19 August 1946 to W. S. Sanders of Norfolk, VA
  • Fate unknown.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 950 t.
    1932 - 1,350 t.
  • Length 187' 10"
  • Beam 35' 6'
  • Draft 9' 10"
    1932 - 13' 1"
  • Speed 14 kts.
    1932 - 13.5 kts.
  • Complement 78
    1932 - 85
  • Armament: Two 3"/50 mounts
    1932 - Two 3"/50 dual purpose mounts
  • Propulsion: Two Babcock and Wilcox header boilers, one 1,400shp Harlan and Hollingsworth 200psi saturated steam vertical triple expansion reciprocating steam engine, one shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS Lapwing (Minesweeper No. 1)
    Lapwing 84k Namesake: Lapwing - Named for the crested plover (Vanellus vanellus) of Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, noted for its slow, irregular, flapping flight and its shrill wailing cry Tommy Trampp
    Lapwing 62k Streaming her homeward-bound pennant Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
    Penguin 107k Penguin (Minesweeper No. 33), at left and Lapwing, "Coming up to repass" sweep gear, after exploding a mine during the sweeping of the North Sea Mine Barrage in 1919. Note the identification letters on the ships' bows: "PD" on Penguin and "W" on Lapwing
    Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken by DeLong, of USS Black Hawk [ID 2140], published in the cruise book "Sweeping the North Sea Mine Barrage, 1919", page 59
    Donation of Chief Storekeeper Charles A. Free
    U.S. Navy photo NH 99473    		 Naval Historical Center
    Penguin 80k "The Buoy Laying Division in Kirkwall Harbor." From left to right, in center: USS Osprey (Minesweeper No. 29), Penguin (Minesweeper No. 33), and Lapwing moored together in Kirkwall Harbor, Orkney Islands, during the sweeping of the North Sea Mine Barrage, 1919. Note the identification letters on the ships' bows: "A" on Osprey, "PD" on Penguin and "W" on Lapwing.
    Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken by Kitress, of USS Swan [Minesweeper No. 34], published in the cruise book "Sweeping the North Sea Mine Barrage, 1919", page 63.
    Donation of Chief Storekeeper Charles A. Free.
    U.S. Navy photo NH 99474
    Lapwing 66k Photo from "Sweeping the North Sea Mine Barrage" by the U.S. Navy North Sea Minesweeping Detachment Joe Radigan
    Lapwing 269k
    Lapwing 143k Review of the Atlantic Fleet Minesweeping Squadron, November 1919. Lapwing and other ships of the squadron anchored in the Hudson River, off New York City, while being reviewed by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels on 24 November 1919, following their return to the United States after taking part in clearing the North Sea mine barrage. The other ships visible are: USS Lark (Minesweeper No. 21), with USS SC-208 alongside (at left); and USS Swan (Minesweeper No. 34) with USS SC-356 alongside (at right).
    U.S. Navy photo NH 44903    		 Naval Historical Center
    Lapwing 118k Review of the Atlantic Fleet Minesweeping Squadron, November 1919. Ships of the squadron anchored in the Hudson River, off New York City, while being reviewed by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels on 24 November 1919, following their return to the United States after taking part in clearing the North Sea mine barrage. Identifiable ships present include (left column, from front to rear): USS Turkey (Minesweeper No. 13); USS Quail (Minesweeper No. 15) with SC-354 alongside; USS Lark (Minesweeper No. 21) with SC-208 alongside; USS Swan (Minesweeper No. 34) with SC-356 alongside; and USS Flamingo (Minesweeper No. 32) with an unidentified submarine chaser alongside. (right column, from front to rear): USS Thrush (Minesweeper No. 18); Two unidentified minesweepers, one of which is probably Lapwing; USS Kingfisher (Minesweeper No. 25); and, in no particular order, tugs Patapsco and Patuxent. USS SC-245 is at the far right, passing between the two anchored columns.
    U.S. Navy photo NH 44904
    Lapwing 105k St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin islands
    Probably taken on her journey to the West coast in 1920    		 David Wright
    Photo added 23 September 2020
    USS Lapwing (AVP 1)
    Lapwing 52k Joe Radigan
    Lapwing 668k 5 November 1936
    Coco Solo, Canal Zone
    National Archives photo 80-G-463014 from National Museum of the U.S. Navy    		 Michael Mohl
    Commanding Officers
    01LTJG William Fremgen, USN - Awarded the Navy Cross (1919)12 June 1918 - 19 December 1919
    02Chief Boatswain Forrest Edward Frost, USN19 December 1919 - 11 April 1922
    03LT Ralph Judd Arnold, USN - USNA Class of 19231 September 1932 - 1935
    04LT Clyde Wendell Smith, USN1 July 1935 - 14 July 19371937
    05LCDR Richard Waynick Ruble, USN - Retired as Rear Admiral14 July 1937 - 18 June 1938
    06LT John Golden Foster, Jr., USN - Retired as Rear Admiral18 June 1938 - 1 January 1941
    07LT Harry Ray Horney, USN1 January 1941 - 10 September 1942
    08LT Daniel Crosby Goodman, USN10 September 1942 - 17 December 1943
    09LTJG Douglas Francis Peak, USN17 December 1943 - 28 July 1944
    10LTJG Lloyd G. Seaver, USN28 July 1944 - 11 May 1945
    11LT Fred Charles Groh, USN11 May 1945 - 23 November 1945
    12LTJG Evan Marthy Chanik, USN23 November 1945 - 29 November 1945
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler, Ron Reeves and Joe Radigan
    View the Lapwing (AM 1)
    DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command website
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    This page was created by Gary P. Priolo & maintained by Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory) & Michael Mohl
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