USS Finch (AM-9)

History
United States
NameUSS Finch
BuilderStandard Shipbuilding Co., New York
Launched30 March 1918
Commissioned
  • 10 September 1918
  • (as Minesweeper No.9)
ReclassifiedAM-9, 17 July 1920
Stricken8 May 1942
Honours and
awards
1 battle star (World War II)
Fatedamaged by Japanese bomb, 10 April 1942
Notessalvaged by Japanese
Japan
NamePatrol Boat No. 103 (Dai-103-Gō shōkaitei)
Acquired8 May 1942
Commissioned1 April 1943
FateSunk by United States bombs, 12 January 1945
General characteristics
Class & typeLapwing-class minesweeper
Displacement950 long tons (965 t)
Length187 ft 10 in (57.25 m)
Beam35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
Draft10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)
Speed14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement78
Armament2 × 3 in (76 mm) guns

USS Finch (AM-9) was a Lapwing-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing. During World War II, Finch was sunk and later salvaged by the Japanese and commissioned as Patrol Boat No. 103.

Finch was named for the finch, and is strictly speaking the only U.S. vessel named for such.