U.S.S. Salem
CM-11
1942
(Saratoga Model Shipyard SMY-70)
- Class: Salem - 2 minelayers of 1942
- Displacement: 6,525 tons
- Dimensions: 350 x 57 x 16 ft.
- Machinery: vertical triple-expansion, 2 screws, 2,700 SHP = 12 knots
- Armament: 3-3"/50 (3x1), 8-20mm A.A. guns
- Mines: 300+
- Complement: 275
- Builder: William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia, PA, 1916
- Commissioned: 9 Aug 1942
- Decommissioned: 6 Dec 1945
- Service: Built as railcar ferry SS Joseph R. Parrott for Florida-Havana service; able to carry 30 refrigerated railcars. Acquired by Navy 8 Jun 1942 for conversion to minelayer and renamed Salem. During Operation Torch in Nov 1942 she laid 202 mines off Casablanca. Returned to Norfolk by Feb 1943, then return to Oran by Jun. Laid 390 mines off Sicily Jul 1943 during Operation Husky, followed by some trooping from N.Africa. Return to New York Oct 1943. Sent to Pearl Harbor May 1944 to serve as ammunition transport. Damaged Oct 1944 and towed to Pearl where she was converted to a net cargo vessel (AKN) by Feb 1945. Carried anti-torpedo nets to Kerama Retto in late Mar for the invasion of Okinawa. Renamed Shawmut 15 Aug 1945 to free name for new cruiser. Postwar sold back to original owners Mar 1947 and renamed Joseph R. Parrott. Scrapped ~1970. Sister ship SS Estrada Palma served as USS Weehawken (CM-12).
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