USS Pochard

Pochard at Little Creek, Virginia on 13 February 1945
History
United States
NameUSS Pochard
BuilderSavannah Machine and Foundry Co., Savannah, Georgia
Laid down10 February 1944
Launched11 June 1944
Commissioned27 November 1944
Decommissioned15 January 1947
Recommissioned27 February 1952
Decommissioned3 August 1955
ReclassifiedMSF-375, 7 February 1955
Stricken1 December 1966
Honours &
awards
3 battle stars (World War II)
FateSold for scrap
General characteristics
Class & typeAuk-class minesweeper
Displacement890 long tons (904 t)
Length221 ft 3 in (67.44 m)
Beam32 ft (9.8 m)
Draft10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)
Speed18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement100 officers and enlisted
Armament

USS Pochard (AM-375) was an Auk-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.

Pochard was named after the pochard, a heavy-bodied diving duck.

Pochard was laid down by Savannah Machine and Foundry Co., Savannah, Georgia, 10 February 1944; launched 11 June 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Mary E. Kennard; and commissioned 27 November 1944.