View source for USS Broadbill (AM-58)

{{short description|Minesweeper of the United States Navy}}
{{other ships|USS Broadbill}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
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|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1954}}
|Ship name=USS ''Broadbill''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder= [[Defoe Shipbuilding Company]], [[Bay City, Michigan]]
|Ship laid down= 1942
|Ship launched= 21 May 1942
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|Ship commissioned= 21 July 1943
|Ship decommissioned= 3 June 1946
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{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship recommissioned= 19 March 1952
|Ship decommissioned= 24 January 1954
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|Ship struck= 1 July 1972
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|Ship reclassified= MSF-58, 7 February 1965
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|Ship honours=2 [[battle star]]s (World War II)
|Ship fate=Sold for scrap, 1 December 1973
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|Ship class= {{sclass|Auk|minesweeper}}
|Ship displacement={{convert|890|LT|t|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship length={{convert|221|ft|3|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|32|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft={{convert|10|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}}
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|Ship speed={{convert|18|kn|lk=in}}
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|Ship complement=100 officers and enlisted
|Ship armament=*1 × [[3"/50 caliber gun]]
*2 × [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40 mm]] guns
*2 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm]] guns
*2 × [[Depth charge]] tracks
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'''USS ''Broadbill'' (AM-58)''', was an {{sclass|Auk|minesweeper}} of the [[United States Navy]], named after the broadbill, a hunters' nickname for the [[greater scaup]], a diving duck common in the winter along the Atlantic coast.  ''Broadbill'' was launched on 21 May 1942 at the [[Defoe Shipbuilding Company]] in [[Bay City, Michigan]], sponsored by Mrs. A. Loring Swasey, wife of Captain Swasey.  She was commissioned on 13 October 1942.
==Service history==
===1942&ndash;1946===
After commissioning, ''Broadbill'' reported at [[Boston]], Massachusetts to the Commander, [[Service Force]], [[USLANTFLT|Atlantic Fleet]].
Until April 1944, she escorted [[convoy]]s between east coast and [[Gulf of Mexico|Gulf]] coast ports, and made two voyages to the [[Caribbean]]. On 11 April 1944, she got underway for [[England]] where she conducted numerous practice sweeps in preparation for the [[invasion of Normandy]].
On 5 June 1944 ''Broadbill'', as a unit of [[Mine Squadron 7]], in company with 10 other [[Minesweeper (ship)|minesweepers]], cleared the approach channel to [[Utah Beach]] for [[fire support]] ships, and on 6 June, commenced sweeping the actual support area.  On 25 June, she helped clear fire support areas off [[Cherbourg]].  Operations were continued off England and [[France]] until August.
She then proceeded to [[Naples]], via [[Oran, Algeria]], and conducted sweeping operations in the [[Ligurian Sea]], [[Strait of Bonifacio]], and around [[Sardinia]] and [[Corsica]].  Completing this assignment, Mine Squadron 7 arrived at [[Cavalaire-sur-Mer|Cavalaire Bay]] in southern France on 23 August 1944 to clear French [[harbor]]s and approaches during [[Operation Dragoon]], the invasion of Southern France.  On 28 May 1945, ''Broadbill'', in company with [[Mine Division 21]], departed for [[Norfolk, Virginia]], where she underwent repairs until 30 August 1945.
On 17 September 1945, in company with [[ServRon|Service Squadron]] 5, ''Broadbill ''got underway for [[San Pedro, California]].  She was subsequently ordered to [[Astoria, Oregon]], arriving on 7 December for pre-inactivation [[wikt:overhaul|overhaul]].  ''Broadbill'' went out of commission in reserve at San Diego on 3 June 1946.
===1952&ndash;1954===
Recommissioned on 19 March 1952, ''Broadbill'' operated off the [[California]] coast until 27 June 1952.  She then sailed to [[Charleston, South Carolina]], arriving there on 15 July.  During the remainder of 1952, she operated out of Charleston and conducted one Caribbean training cruise.
In January 1953, she proceeded to the [[Mediterranean]] for a cruise with the [[United States Sixth Fleet|6th Fleet]], returning to Charleston on 21 May 1953.  She conducted routine operations off the [[Atlantic]] coast until August, when she reported for inactivation overhaul.  ''Broadbill'' was placed out of commission in reserve on 25 January 1954, berthed at [[Orange, Texas]].  She was reclassified '''MSF-58''' on 7 February 1955.
''Broadbill'' was struck from the Navy list on 1 July 1972, and disposed of by Navy sale on 1 December 1973.
==References==
*{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b9/broadbill-ii.htm}}
==External links==
* {{navsource|11/02058|USS Broadbill (AM-58/MSF-58)}}
{{Auk class minesweeper}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Broadbill (AM-58)}}
[[Category:Auk-class minesweepers of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in Bay City, Michigan]]
[[Category:1942 ships]]
[[Category:World War II minesweepers of the United States]]