High-speed minesweeper

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In Naval warfare, a high-speed minesweeper is a type of ship designed to clear naval mines. With the construction of newer, more heavily armed and far-ranging destroyers, the need for the old flush deck destroyers in their designed role diminished. While a great many of those World War I authorized ships lay in reserve on both coasts of the United States, the US Navy was expanding and, in view of ominous developments in Europe and the Far East, broadening its operational horizons. Aviation oriented and mine-warfare types of ships, seaplane tenders, and fast minesweepers and minelayers were needed. Accordingly, some of the old flush deck destroyers were converted to other roles. A number of Clemson-class destroyers were chosen for conversion to high-speed minesweepers. The ships retained their full four-gun main battery and an antiaircraft battery of .50-caliber machine guns, as well as depth charge tracks but the twelve 21-inch torpedo tubes were replaced by minesweeping gear.

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.