Soviet minesweeper T-117 explained
T-117 was a
minesweeper of the
Soviet Navy during
World War II and the
Cold War. She had originally been built as
USS Arch (AM-144), 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-117; she was never returned to the United States. The ship was renamed several times in Soviet service and was scrapped on 19 September 1967. 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
Arch was laid down on 18 October 1942 at Tampa, Florida, by the Tampa Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 7 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. A. M. Kearny; and completed on 6 September 1943. She was transferred to the Soviet Navy that same day as T-117. She was never returned to U.S. custody.
In Soviet service, the ship was renamed TB-22 on 15 October 1955, and VTR-22 on 8 March 1966. She was eventually scrapped on 19 September 1967.
Due to the ongoing Cold War, the U.S. Navy was unaware of this fate. They had reclassified the vessel as MSF-144 on 7 February 1955, and kept her on the American Naval Vessel Register until she was struck on 1 January 1983.
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