USS Lodestone

USS Lodestone (ADG-8) was a degaussing vessel of the United States Navy, named after the mineral lodestone. Originally planned as a patrol craft escort (PCE-876), she was laid down on 27 May 1943 by the Albina Engine & Machine Works of Portland, Oregon; launched 30 September 1943; reclassified YDG-8 on 23 December 1943; and commissioned 10 July 1944.

History
United States
Name	USS Lodestone
Builder	Albina Engine and Machine Works, Portland
Laid down	27 May 1943
Launched	30 September 1943
Commissioned	10 July 1944
Decommissioned	May 1946
Renamed	Lodestone, 1 February 1955
Reclassified	YDG-8, 23 December 1943
Stricken	21 February 1975
Fate	Scrapped, 1 May 1976
General characteristics
Displacement	640 long tons (650 t)
Length	184 ft 6 in (56.24 m)
Beam	34 ft (10 m)
Draft	9 ft (2.7 m)
Speed	14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement	65
Armament	1 × 3"/50 caliber gun 4 × single 20 mm guns

Service history

After shakedown YDG-8 departed San Pedro, California on 18 August for the South Pacific. She operated out of Tulagi until early October when she joined the 7th Fleet, arriving Manus, Admiralty Islands, 6 October. For the rest of the war YDG-8 provided degaussing services in the Pacific Islands, primarily at Manus and in the Philippines. After the war she returned to the United States and decommissioned in May 1946. She joined the Reserve Fleet and was berthed at San Diego, California. Reclassified ADG-8 on 1 November 1947, she was named Lodestone on 1 February 1955.

Struck from the Naval Register on 21 February 1975, Lodestone was scrapped 1 May 1976.

References

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

• "Lodestone". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 5 January 2007.
• "Lodestone (ADG 8) / ex-YDG-8 / ex-PCE-876". Patrol Craft Escort Photo Archive. Retrieved 5 January 2007.