Nucleus (AM-268)
1944-1983
A general word classification.
(AM-268: displacement 625; length 184'6"; beam 33'0"; draft 9'9"; speed 15.0 knots; complement 104; armament 1 3-inch, 2 40 millimeter, 6 20 millimeter, 1 depth charge projector (Hedgehog), 4 depth charge projectors, 2 depth charge tracks; class Admirable)
Nucleus (AM-268) was laid down on 7 September 1942 at Chickasaw, Alabama, by the Gulf Shipbuilding Corp.; launched on 26 June 1943; sponsored by Mrs. V. Ludwig; and commissioned at her building yard on 11 February 1944, Lt. Davis H. Elliot, DE-V(G), USNR, in command.
Following shakedown in Chesapeake Bay, Nucleus served briefly as an escort vessel to the Caribbean and on 20 April 1944 sailed to Boston. From Boston she escorted a convoy to Argentia, arriving on 6 May. After another escort run between Boston and Newfoundland, she took up meteorological information collection duties. Between 10 and 24 June a platform deck for launching radiosonde gear and balloons was added to her silhouette increasing her effectiveness as she plied the waters of the North Atlantic in the role of weather reporter. Relieved by sister ship Penetrate (AM-271) on 7 October, Nucleus returned to Boston, thence steamed to Norfolk, Virginia, arriving on 25 November.
During December 1944, Nucleus swept mines and conducted ASW patrols off the entrance to Chesapeake Bay. In January 1945, she conducted another Caribbean escort run, and on 2 February departed Norfolk, escorting the gasoline tankerTetonkaha (AOG-41) to Navassa Island.
Detached on 8 February 1945, the minesweeper continued on to Panama, transiting the Panama Canal on 10 February, for onward routing to Cold Bay, Alaska. Arriving at the latter port on 3 April, Nucleus conducted local exercises and trained sailors from the Soviet Navy until 20 May, at which point she was then decommissioned and transferred under Lend Lease to the USSR.
On 7 February 1955, she was redesignated MSF-268, and ultimately stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 January 1983.
Updated, Robert J. Cressman
13 May 2022
