USS Tanager, an 840-ton Lapwing class minesweeper built at Staten Island, New York, was commissioned in late June 1918. She steamed to the Azores in September and October, subsequently continuing on to the European mainland. In May 1919, Tanager joined the immense operation to clear the North Sea of World War I mines. From then until late September, despite damage from weather and exploding mines, she persisted in the task of sweeping thousands of mines laid only a year previously to prevent German submarines from reaching Allied shipping lanes. Tanager returned to the United States, by way of France, the Azores and Bermuda, in November 1919.
Sent to the Pacific soon afterwards, she was designated AM-5 in July 1920, when the U.S. Navy implemented its alpha-numeric hull number system. Tanager was based at Pearl Harbor most of the time during the next two decades. In 1923 she participated in a scientific expedition to Wake and other central Pacific islands. She was station ship at Pago Pago, Samoa in 1928 and, in 1930, assisted in the effort to recommission dozens of destroyers that had been laid up at San Diego, California since 1922.
Modified for possible war service, in May and June 1941 Tanager crossed the Pacific to the Philippines. She operated in the vicinity of Manila as the U.S. Navy prepared for threatened hostilities with Japan. War began on 8 December (local time). Two days later, the minesweeper was able to avoid damage when enemy bombers hit the Cavite Navy Yard. Later in December, she helped move men and materiel to Corregidor and subsequently patrolled the waters off that fortress island and the Bataan Peninsula. On 4 May 1942, USS Tanager was sunk by Japanese artillery fire.
This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have concerning USS Tanager (Minesweeper # 5, later AM-5).
For more photographs related to this ship during and shortly after the North Sea Mine Barrage clearance operation of mid-1919, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 107315 USS Tanager (Minesweeper # 5) In port during North Sea Mine Barrage clearance operations, circa mid-1919. She wears "X" as an identification mark on her bow and smokestack. Another vessel, part of a group of ships partially visible in the right distance, also has an "X" painted on her bow. The original photograph is in the USS Tanager collection (Lot # S-590, page 1). Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2010. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 55 KB; 900 x 535 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 107316 USS Tanager (Minesweeper # 5) Dressed with flags while anchored in port during North Sea Mine Barrage clearance operations, circa mid-1919. She wears "X" as an identification mark on her bow and smokestack. The original photograph is in the USS Tanager collection (Lot # S-590, page 1). Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2010. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 66 KB; 900 x 540 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 47193 USS Tanager (Minesweeper # 5) Underway at sea, during mine clearance operations in the North Sea, circa July 1919. Note the identification number ("5") on her smokestack, and minesweeping wires streamed aft. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 83 KB; 900 x 545 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 107314 USS Tanager (Minesweeper # 5) In dry dock at Lisbon, Portugal in October 1919, while en route to the U.S. following North Sea Mine Barrage clearance operations. The original photograph is in the USS Tanager collection (Lot # S-590, page 1). Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2010. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 117 KB; 900 x 555 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 107435 USS Tanager (AM-5) In port, during a scientific expedition from Honolulu to Wake Island and other Pacific Ocean islands, circa 1923. Collection of Chief Warrant Officer James B. Dofflemeyer, USN. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 72 KB; 900 x 555 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 107318 USS Tanager (Minesweeper # 5) Gunnery practice, circa 1918-1919. Officers are using binoculars to spot the fall of shot. This gun is a 3"/50. The original photograph is in the USS Tanager collection (Lot # S-590, page 4). Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2010. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 95 KB; 900 x 575 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 107319 USS Tanager (Minesweeper # 5) Crew members using the ship's after deck capstan to pay out or haul in a heavy line, circa 1918-1919. The original photograph is in the USS Tanager collection (Lot # S-590, page 4). Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2010. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 97 KB; 900 x 560 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 107321 USS Tanager (Minesweeper # 5) An officer directs the deployment of a minesweeping device, circa 1918-1919. The original photograph is in the USS Tanager collection (Lot # S-590, page 5). Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2010. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 117 KB; 900 x 560 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 107322 USS Tanager (Minesweeper # 5) A Mark VI mine explodes astern of the ship during the North Sea Mine Barrage clearance operation, circa mid-1919. The original photograph is in the USS Tanager collection (Lot # S-590, page 8). Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2010. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 50 KB; 900 x 555 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 107436 USS Tanager (Minesweeper # 5) Ship's Officers and Crew, photographed on board in a North Sea port, during the 1919 North Sea mine barrage clearance operation. Halftone reproduction, published in the cruise book "Sweeping the North Sea Mine Barrage, 1919", page 121. Donation of Chief Storekeeper Charles A. Free. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 108 KB; 900 x 470 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 107323 USS Tanager (Minesweeper # 5) Three members of the ship's crew visiting Lisbon, Portugal, in October 1919, while she was en route to the U.S. after participating in sweeping the North Sea Mine Barrage. These men are, from left to right: The original photograph is in the USS Tanager collection (Lot # S-590, page 13). Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2010. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 132 KB; 900 x 545 pixels |
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The following photograph may have been taken aboard USS Tanager:
Photo #: NH 107320 U.S. Navy Mark VI Mine Disarmed aboard ship, circa 1918-1919. The ship may be USS Tanager (Minesweeper # 5). The original photograph is in the USS Tanager collection (Lot # S-590, page 6). Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2010. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 81 KB; 535 x 925 pixels |
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For more photographs related to this ship during and shortly after the North Sea Mine Barrage clearance operation of mid-1919, see:
In addition to the views referenced above, the National Archives appears to hold at least one other photograph of USS Tanager (AM-5). The following listing describes this image:
The image listed below is NOT in
the Naval History and Heritage Command's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our
page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".
USS Tanager (AM-5) alongside USS Oglala (CM-4) in Kiska Bay, Aleutian Islands, May 1935. Starboard quarter surface view. Reproductions of this image should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center. The image listed above is NOT in the Naval History and Heritage Command's collections. DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions". |
NOTES:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 16 December 2010
New images added 25 December 2010