Valle Class Patrol Vessels: USS Ardent (Am-340), USS Champion (Am-314), USS Chief (Am-315), USS Competent (Am-316), USS Defense (Am-317), USS Deva

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 26. Chapters: USS Ardent (AM-340), USS Champion (AM-314), USS Chief (AM-315), USS Competent (AM-316), USS Defense (AM-317), USS Devastator (AM-318), USS Gladiator (AM-319), USS Herald (AM-101), USS Pilot (AM-104), USS Pioneer (AM-105), USS Roselle (AM-379), USS Sage (AM-111), USS Scoter (AM-381), USS Spear (AM-322), USS Starling (AM-64), USS Sway (AM-120), USS Symbol (AM-123), USS Threat (AM-124), USS Velocity (AM-128). Excerpt: USS Sage (AM-111) 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. Sage was laid down on 29 July 1942 by the Winslow Marine Railway and Shipbuilding Company, Winslow, Washington; launched on 21 November 1942; sponsored by Miss Shirley Woodman; and commissioned on 23 August 1943, Lt. Franklyn K. Zinn, USNR, in command. Following shakedown off the California coast, Sage moved west to Pearl Harbor. Arriving on 20 October, she departed again on the 28th; proceeded to Midway Island, whence she provided escort services to the Ellice and Phoenix Islands; then returned to Hawaii. Through December 1943 and into January 1944, she conducted minesweeping exercises and experiments and was altered to carry a small support landing craft. On 22 January, she embarked a hydrographic party; and, on the 23rd, she sortied with Task Force 51, the Marshall Islands assault force. On the 31st, Sage commenced minesweeping and hydrographic survey operations at Majuro; and, four days later, shifted to Kwajalein. For the next week, she alternated antisubmarine patrols with sonar watch duty at the entrance to the lagoon. On 11 February, she and three other AM's tracked and attacked a possible submarine one mile off Gea, but the depth charges they dropped seemingly inflicted little or no damage. On the 15th, however, she sailed with Task Group 51.11 for Eniwetok; and, the same day, joined the destroyers Phelps (DD-360) and Macdonough (DD-351) in sinking the Japanese submarine RO-40. Two days later, Sage, with Oracle (AM-103), YMS-262, and YMS-383, was detached from the formation. Proceeding to Wide Pass, they commenced sweeping operations at 0617; and, at 0726, entered the lagoon. An hour and one half later, they sighted personnel on board a beached Japanese ship. After shelling the ship, they resumed sweeping operations and added patrol duties which continued until mid-March.