Soviet minesweeper T-116 explained
T-116 was a
minesweeper of the
Soviet Navy during
World War II and the
Cold War. She had originally been built as
USS Arcade (AM-143), an, for the
United States Navy during
World War II, but never saw active service in the U.S. Navy. Upon completion she was transferred to the
Soviet Union under
Lend-Lease as
T-116; she was never returned to the United States. The ship was renamed several times in Soviet service and was scrapped on 4 May 1963. Because of the
Cold War, the U.S. Navy was unaware of this fate and the vessel remained on the American
Naval Vessel Register until she was struck on 1 January 1983.
Career
Arcade was laid down on 8 June 1942 at Tampa, Florida, by the Tampa Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 7 December 1942; sponsored by Miss V. Zoll; and completed on 26 August 1943. She was transferred to the Soviet Navy that same day as T-116. She was never returned to U.S. custody.
On 5 September 1944, while on patrol in Kara Sea, T-116 attacked and sunk with depth charges the German submarine U-362.[1]
In Soviet service the ship was renamed TB-23 on 11 July 1956, and SM-7 on 23 October 1962. The ship was eventually scrapped on 4 May 1963.
Due to the ongoing Cold War, the U.S. Navy was unaware of this fate. They had reclassified the vessel as MSF-143 on 7 February 1955, and kept her on the American Naval Vessel Register until she was struck on 1 January 1983.
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: The Type VIIC U-boat U-362 – German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.
