U.S.S. Aroostook
CM-3
1931
(Argonaut AR-292)
- Class: Aroostook - 2 minelayers of 1907
- Displacement: 4,200 tons
- Dimensions: 395(oa) x 52 x 16 ft.
- Machinery: 2 triple expansion steam engines, 2 shafts, total I.H.P. 7,500 = 20 knots
- Armament: 1-3"/50 A.A. guns
- Mines: 300+
- Complement: 346
- Builder: William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia, PA, 1907
- Launched: 26 Mar 1907
- Acquired: 12 Nov 1917
- Commissioned: 7 Dec 1917
- Decommissioned: 10 Mar 1931
- Service:Built as the steamer SS Bunker Hill for the Fall River Line in 1907. Purchased by the Navy and renamed Aroostook in 1917 with the registry ID-1256 for conversion to a mine planter. Helped lay the North Sea Mine Barrage, planting 3,180 mines from July 1918 to the end of World War I. Converted to an aviation tender in 1919, supporting the NC-1,2,3,4 transatlantic flight attempt in May 1919 from Newfoundland, which resulted in a successful mission by NC-4. Transferred to Pacific Fleet Sep 1919 and reclassified as minelayer CM-3, 17 Feb 1920. In 1925 supported failed attempt for two PN-9 flying boats to travel non-stop from San Francisco to Hawaii. Decommissioned in 1931 and laid up until 1941, when the Navy tried to convert her to a cargo ship, assigned hull number AK-44, but she was considered to be in too poor material condition.
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