Naval History and Heritage Command

I

The first Pirate (SP-229) was built by A. Craven Construction Co., Charleston, S.C., in 1916; acquired by the Navy by charter from A. Halsey 5 September 1917; and placed in service on that date.

During World War I, Pirate patrolled Atlantic shores. After war-time service, the motorboat was returned to her owner 26 December 1918.

(AM-275: displacement 850; length 184'6"; beam 33'; draft 9'9"; speed 15 k.; complement 104; armament 1 3"; class Admirable)

The second Pirate (AM-275) was laid down 1 July 1943 by Gulf Shipbuilding Co., Chickasaw, AL; launched 16 December 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Clara L. Oliver; and commissioned 12 June 1944.

That summer Pirate operated in and around Casco Bay and Boston; conducted antisubmarine warfare exercises with Italian submarine Vertice and with CTG 23.9 in early August; and later in the month swept the channel from Boston to Provincetown. In December she transferred operations to Miami, where she was schoolship for student officers for the next 4 months.

Pirate got underway from Miami 4 April 1945 to transit the Panama Canal, stop at San Diego, and proceed to Pearl Harbor for duty. She departed Pearl Harbor and proceeded with Mine Division 32 via Eniwetok to Apra Harbor, Guam 7 June. As Allied forced made the final drive on Okinawa, Pirate reported at Nakagusuku Bay 26 June. In September she was minesweeping in area "Arcadia", in and around Jinsen, Korea, and operated off the northern coast of Formosa in November.

Decommissioning at Bremerton, Washington 6 November 1946, the ship reported to Service Force Pacific Fleet in December 1947 for deployment in Japanese waters in a caretaker status; she retained this status, out of service in reserve for the next several years.

In July 1950, Pirate was with Mine Division 32, Service Force, Pacific Fleet when hostilities in Korea called her back into active service. Recommissioning 14 August 1950 at Yokosuka, Japan, she departed Sasebo 8 September for duties off Pusan, Korea. On 12 October, she and Pledge were minesweeping 3 miles off the enemy-held island of Sin-Do when the ships hit mines. Sinking within 5 minutes, Pirate had 12 sailors missing and one dead.

Pirate received 4 battle stars for World War II service.

30 July 2001