Naval History and Heritage Command

In Roman mythology the goddess of the arts and handicrafts. SP-425 is a former name retained.

The steamer gunboat Sandusky was renamed Minerva 15 June 1869 and renamed Sandusky 10 August 1869.

Minerva (SP-425) was built by Luders Marine Construction Co., Stamford, Conn., in 1914; acquired by the Navy under free lease from her owner, Mrs. Elisabeth C. Bowen of New York City, 7 May 1917; and commissioned 20 July 1917, Ensign R. G. Megargel, USNRF [US Naval Reserve Force] in command.

Assigned to the 3d Naval District, New York, Minerva served during World War I as a section patrol boat in the coastal waters of the New York area. In addition she guarded the submarine and torpedo nets in the approaches to New York harbor. After the armistice, she was decommissioned and returned to her owner 14 January 1919.

LST-374 was renamed Minerva and reclassified ARL-374 on 29 May 1945 following her decommissioning the same day. On 30 May she began conversion to a landing craft repair ship at Maryland Drydock Co., Baltimore, Md. The conversion was canceled 11 September 1945, and she was reclassified LST-374. She was towed to Norfolk, Va., 12 October; stripped of Navy equipment; and declared surplus 26 November. Her name was struck from the Navy list 12 March 1946. Her hulk was sold to A.G. Schoonmaker 14 January 1947.