USS SALUTE (AM-294)

	Career	USN Jack
Laid down:	11 November 1942
Launched:	6 February 1943
Commissioned:	4 December 1943
Battle Stars:	5
Fate:	Struck a mine off the Philippines and sank, 8 June 1945
Struck:	11 July 1945
General Characteristics
Class:	Admirable class minesweeper
Displacement:	795 tons
Length:	184'6"
Beam:	33'
Draft:	9'
Speed:	15 k.
Complement:	104
Armament:	1 3", 2 40mm., 6 20mm., 2 dct., 2 dcp., 1 dcp. (hh.)

The 'USS Salute (AM-294),' a U.S. Navy oceangoing minesweeper, was named after the word “salute,” meaning to greet or welcome with customary actions or words.
The 'USS Salute (AM-294)' was laid down on 11 November 1942 by Winslow Marine Railway and Shipbuilding Co., Seattle, Washington; launched on 6 February 1943; sponsored by Miss Patricia Lindgren; and commissioned on 4 December 1943, Lt. R. H. Nelson in command.

Contents

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

Salute strikes a mine and sinks

Awards

References

See also

External links

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

After shakedown, 'USS Salute' sailed from San Francisco on 21 March 1944 for Hawaii. Between April and September 1944, she escorted convoys between Pearl Harbor, Majuro, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Guam, and Saipan, before reporting to the 7th Fleet at Manus on 8 October for the Leyte invasion. On 20 October, she joined her division, Mine Division 34, off the Leyte beaches for a four-day sweep of the main transport channel, and then anchored with the transports to provide antiaircraft support. Between 27 and 31 October, she helped search for survivors at the scene of the Battle off Samar, where a group of escort carriers, destroyers, and destroyer escorts, had repulsed the attack of a more powerful Japanese fleet. For the next month, she carried out local patrols and sweeps in the vicinity of Leyte.
'USS Salute' participated with her division in most of the subsequent landings in the Philippines. She carried out pre-invasion sweeps at Ormoc Bay on 6 December, Mindoro Island on 14 December, Lingayen Gulf on 6 January 1945, and Zambales and Subic Bay on 29 and 31 January. During and after the initial troop landings, she helped extend the mineswept areas and provided antisubmarine and antiaircraft protection for the transports anchored off the beaches. Few mines were encountered, but kamikaze resistance was intense, and the ships saw much antiaircraft action.
On 13 February, 'USS Salute' and her division began pre-invasion sweeps in Manila Bay in preparation for the landings at Mariveles and Corregidor. While sweeping off Corregidor on the 14th, the minesweepers came within 5,000 yards of the island and were repeatedly straddled by Japanese fire before supporting ships silenced the island's guns.' USS Salute' continued sweeping in Manila Bay through 18 February, and her division earned a Navy Unit Commendation for the operation.
During the next two and one-half months, 'USS Salute' carried out several local sweeps in support of ground operations in the Philippines, the most notable being a pre-assault sweep for the landings at Legaspi, Luzon, on 1 April, and an 8-day sweep in the Sulu Sea off Palawan beginning on 22 April. On 9 May, the ship arrived at Morotai to prepare for operations in the Netherlands East Indies.

Salute strikes a mine and sinks

With Mine Division 34, 'USS Salute' began the pre-invasion sweep for the landings in Brunei Bay, Borneo, on 7 June 1945. The next day, she struck a mine, buckled amidships, and both bow and stern began to sink. Two landing craft attempted to salvage the minesweeper, but they were unable to control her flooding, and the ship sank. 'USS Salute' was struck from the Navy list on 11 July 1945.
She now lies at 08.614' N , 115 04.906' E in 30 meters of water, broken in two pieces, one lying across the other. It is a popular and challenging dive site with a lot of munitions both on and nearby the wreck. The Malaysian navy recently removed her unexploded depth charges.

Awards

'USS Salute' received 5 battle stars for her World War II service.

References

http://www.tntdiventures.com/brunei.html#oz%20wreck

See also

★ List of United States Navy ships

★ Admirable class minesweeper

★ World War II

★ Minesweeper (ship)

★ Minesweeping

External links

★ Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

★ USS Salute AM 294

★ Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 AM-294 USS Salute

★ Brunei - An amazing place for wreck dives. As yet, undiscovered by ...

★ uboat.net - Allied Warships - Admirable class Minesweepers

★ Casualties: U.S. Navy and Coast Guard Vessels, Sunk or Damaged Beyond Repair during World War II, 7 December 1941-1 October 1945