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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

Goldfinch (AM 77)

Goldfinch Class Minesweeper:

  • The first Goldfinch was laid down 6 June 1929 as the trawler M/V Fordham by the Bath Iron Works, Bath, ME for F. J. O'Hara and Sons, Inc. of Boston, MA
  • Launched 3 January 1930
  • Delivered 14 January 1930
  • Renamed Goldfinch 14 August 1940 by the U.S. Navy prior to acquisition
  • Acquired by the Navy 18 September 1940
  • Conversion to a Minesweeper began 20 September 1940 at the Bethlehem Steel Co., East Boston, MA
  • Commissioned USS Goldfinch (AM 77), 30 January 1941 at the Boston Navy Yard
  • Conversion completed in March 1941
  • Decommissioned 18 August 1944 at Boston, MA
  • Struck from the Naval Register 22 August 1944
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission 9 January 1946 and sold to the Norwegian Shipping and Trade Commission of New York, NY
  • Fate unknown.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 455 t.
  • Length 132' 4"
  • Beam 24'
  • Draft 9' 8"
  • Speed 10 kts.
  • Armament: One 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
  • Propulsion: One 500hp diesel engine, one shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Goldfinch 57k Namesake: Goldfinch - An American lemon-yellow finch with black cap, wings, and tail Tommy Trampp
    Photo added 30 April 2020
    Goldfinch 173k U.S. Navy photo NH 89214 Naval History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR William Reed McCaleb, USN30 January 1941
    02LT James Grieve Thorburn, Jr., USNR10 January 1942
    03LT Allard Barnwell Heyward, USN/USNR -USNA Class of 19317 February 1943
    04LT Francis Xavier Connors, Jr., USN6 December 1943 - 18 August 1944
    Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler, Ron Reeves and Joe Radigan
    View the Goldfinch (AM 77)
    DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command website
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