USS Kingbird (AMc-56) was a wooden dragger acquired by the U.S. Navy, just prior to World War II, for clearing coastal minefields.

History
United States
Orderedas Governor Saltonstall
Launched1939
Acquired26 December 1940
Commissioned24 July 1941
Decommissioned28 July 1944
Strickendate unknown
FateTransferred to the WSA for disposal, 7 June 1946
General characteristics
Displacement206 tons
Length96 ft (29 m)
Beam21 ft 6 in (6.55 m)
Draft7 ft (2.1 m)
Speed9 kts
Armamenttwo .30 caliber machine guns

The first Kingbird (AMC-56), ex-Governor Saltonstall, was built in 1939 by the Quincy Drydock & Yacht Co., Quincy, Massachusetts, acquired by the Navy 26 December 1940, and placed in service as a coastal minesweeper in the 1st Naval District 24 July 1941.

Following assignment to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in January 1942, Kingbird operated in the 1st Naval District as a coastal minesweeper for over 2 years. She was reclassified IX-176 10 July 1944 and placed out of service 28 July 1944 for use in training sound operators for new submarines.

Kingbird was transferred to the War Shipping Administration 7 June 1946 for disposal. Her fate is unknown.

References

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