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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

USS Dextrous (MSF 341)
ex-USS Dextrous (AM 341)



Call sign:
November - Delta - Golf - Oscar

ex-HMS Sepoy (BAM 30)


Dextrous served the Navies of the United States and South Korea

Auk Class Minesweeper:

  • The first Dextrous was laid down as HMS Sepoy (BAM 30) by the Gulf Shipbuilding Corp, Chickasaw, AL
  • Renamed and reclassified Dextrous (AM 341) in June 1943
  • Launched 17 June 1943
  • Commissioned USS Dextrous (AM-341), 8 September 1943
    Naval Vessel Register of 1 January 1949 lists plan for decommissioning and placing in reserve as December 1945
  • Placed out of commission, in reserve, 5 June 1946 at San Pedro, CA and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Recommissioned 1 December 1950
  • Reclassified as a Fleet Minesweeper (Steel-hull), MSF-341, 7 February 1955
  • Placed out of commission, in reserve, 31 October 1956
  • Transferred to South Korea in December 1967 and renamed Koje (PCE 1003)
  • Fate unknown.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 890 t.
  • Length 221' 2"
  • Beam 32' 2"
  • Draft 10' 9"
  • Speed 18.1 kts.
  • Complement 105
  • Armament: One 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    1967 - One additional 3"/50 mount
  • Propulsion: Two 1,766shp General Motors 12-278 diesel electric drive engines, Farrel-Birmingham single reduction gear, two shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image
    Size Image Description Source
    Dextrous 43k U.S. Navy photo USS Dextrous (MCM-13) Website
    Dextrous 115k Russ Padden
    Prevail 91 Stern view of Dextrous, Steady (AM 118) and Prevail (AM 107) Ron Reeves
    Dextrous 168k David Wright
    Photo added 29 January 2022

    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR Stanley Sherman Trotman, USNR8 September 1943 - 6 September 1945
    02LT Matthew Thomas McClure, USNR6 September 1945 - 9 February 1946
    03LTJG James Robert Crowson, USNR9 February 1946 - 5 June 1946
    04LCDR Ian Marshall Laird, USN1 December 1950 - 9 May 1952
    05LCDR Benjamin Richard Fern, USN9 May 1952 - 26 August 1954
    06LT Henry Roger Pedneault, USN26 August 1954 - 31 October 1956
    Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler, Ron Reeves, R. A. Moody and Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory)

    View the Dextrous (MSF 341)
    DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command website
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Mine Warfare Ship Photo Index Back to the Fleet Minesweeper (MSF) Photo Index

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    This page was created by Gary P. Priolo & maintained by Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory) & David Wright
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