USS Gull (AM-74)

Gull seen in 1941
History
United States
Orderedas Boston College
Laid downdate unknown
Launched1928
Acquired30 August 1940
Commissioned3 December 1940
Decommissioned25 July 1944
Stricken22 August 1944
Fate
  • Sold May 1946 as a commercial vessel
  • Lost at sea with all hands as F.V. Gudrun 1952
General characteristics
Displacement410 tons
Length124 ft 3 in (37.87 m)
Beam23 ft (7.0 m)
Draft10 ft 8 in (3.25 m)
Speed9 knots (17 km/h)
Armamentone 3" gun mount

USS Gull (AM-74) was a 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.

The ship was built as the trawler Boston College by the Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, in 1928 as first, yard number 119 and U.S. official number 228023, of three trawlers for F. J. O'Hara & Sons of Boston. The trawler was built and registered with slightly larger gross tonnage, 241 GRT, than the second two of 229 GRT, Holy Cross and Georgetown. Boston College was registered with call sign MHBV, length of 114.0 ft (34.7 m) between perpendiculars of 400 h.p. with a crew of 19 designated as engaged in cod and mackerel fishing, owner Trawler Boston College (Mass.).

The Navy acquired the trawler 30 August 1940 converting it at the Boston Yards of the Bethlehem Steel Corp. 30 September 1940; and commissioned 3 December 1940.