USS Nightingale (AMc-18)

History
United States
Orderedas Majestic
BuilderAl Larson Boat Building
Laid downdate unknown
Launched1934
Acquired5 November 1940
Commissioned31 January 1941
Decommissionedc. 1944
Stricken14 October 1944
FateReturned to owner
General characteristics
Displacement197 tons
Length83 ft 2 in (25.35 m)
Beam19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)
Draft9 ft 5 in (2.87 m)
Propulsiondiesel-powered
Speed11.0 knots
Complement17
Armamenttwo .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns

USS Nightingale (AMc-18) was a unique coastal minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.

The third ship to be named Nightingale by the Navy, AMc-18 was built by Al Larson Boat Building in San Pedro, California, in 1934 as Majestic, a wooden-hulled, diesel-powered purse seiner. She was acquired by the Navy from Klemente Zar at Western Boat Building Co in Tacoma, Washington, 5 November 1940; and commissioned 31 January 1941.