View source for USS Partridge (AM-16)

{{short description|Minesweeper of the United States Navy}}
{{Redirect|AM-16|the failed July 1959 launch of a [[Juno II]] rocket|S-1 (satellite)}}
{{other ships|USS Partridge}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=USS Partridge (AM-16) transiting the Panamal Canal, circa in the 1920s (NH 60282).jpg
|Ship caption=USS ''Partridge''
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1944}}
|Ship name=USS ''Partridge''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=Chester Shipbuilding Co., [[Chester, Pennsylvania]]
|Ship laid down=14 May 1918
|Ship launched=15 October 1918
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=17 June 1919, as '''Minesweeper No.16'''
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=29 July 1944
|Ship renamed=
|Ship reclassified=*'''AM-16''', 17 July 1920
*'''AT-138''', 1 June 1942
*'''ATO-138''', 15 May 1944
|Ship homeport=
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honors=
|Ship fate=Sunk by torpedo, 11 June 1944
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class={{sclass|Lapwing|minesweeper}}
|Ship displacement={{convert|950|LT|t|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship length={{convert|187|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|35|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft={{convert|9|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=
|Ship speed={{convert|14|kn|mph km/h|lk=in|abbr=on}}
|Ship range=
|Ship complement=72
|Ship armament=2 × [[3"/50 caliber gun|{{convert|3|in|mm|abbr=on}}/50 cal]] [[dual purpose gun]]s
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''USS ''Partridge'' (AM-16)''' was an {{sclass|Lapwing|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.

''Partridge'' was named after the [[partridge]], any of various [[gallinaceous]] birds, such as the [[ruffed grouse]] or [[bob-white quail]], found in North America.
 
''Partridge'' was laid down on 14 May 1918 by the Chester Shipbuilding Co., [[Chester, Pennsylvania]]:<ref>{{cite web |title=Patridge (AM 16) |url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/02016.htm |website=navsource.org |access-date=13 May 2020}}</ref> launched on 15 October 1918; sponsored by Ms. C. H. McCay; and commissioned on 17 June 1919.

==Post-World War I operations==
Completed too late to participate in [[World War I]], ''Partridge'' operated in the Pacific Ocean until returning to the Atlantic Ocean in June 1941. Converted to an ocean-going [[Tugboat|tug]], ''Partridge'' was reclassified '''AT-138''' on 1 June 1942. The tug participated in rescue and towing duties along the eastern seaboard and in the [[Caribbean]], making an important contribution to saving lives and ships, until early May 1944.

==World War II operations==
Reclassified '''ATO-138''' on 15 May 1944, ''Partridge'' was ordered to England to assist in preparing for the coming [[invasion of Normandy]]. The ship remained in England until 10 June, when she was ordered to sail for the [[beachhead]].

''En route'' to France, at position {{coord|49|30|N|00|50|W|display=inline,title}}, some {{convert|11|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} north of [[Vierville-sur-Mer]], the veteran [[Minesweeper (ship)|minesweeper]] was hit by a [[torpedo]] from a German [[E-Boat]] at 02:00 on 11 June and sank some 35 minutes later.

''Partridge'' was struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] on 29 July 1944.

==References==
{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p2/partridge-i.htm}}

{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|USS Partridge (AM-16)}}
*{{navsource|11/02016|USS Partridge (AM-16/AT-138/ATO-138)}}
*[http://www.usspartridge.com USS Partridge.com]
*[http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5169.html USS ''Partridge'' (AM 16)]
*[http://uboat.net/allies/warships/class.html?ID=225 uboat.net – ''Lapwing'' class minesweepers]

{{Lapwing class minesweeper}}
{{June 1944 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Partridge (AM-16)}}
[[Category:Lapwing-class minesweepers]]
[[Category:Ships built in Chester, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1918 ships]]
[[Category:World War II auxiliary ships of the United States]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the English Channel]]
[[Category:Lapwing-class minesweepers converted to tugs]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in June 1944]]