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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

Albatross (IX 171)
ex-AM-71



Call sign:
Nan - Easy - George - Oboe
Albatross Class Minesweeper:

  • The fourth Albatross was laid down 25 October 1930 as the steel hull trawler Illinois by Bath Iron Works, Bath, ME for the Red Diamond Trawling Corp.
  • Launched 19 March 1931
  • Delivered 30 March 1931
  • Acquired by the Navy 9 August 1940
  • Renamed Albatross 14 August 1940
  • Conversion to a Minesweeper began 6 September 1940 by the General Ship and Engine Works of East Boston, MA
  • Commissioned USS Albatross (AM 71), 8 November 1940 at the Boston Navy Yard
  • Conversion completed 8 November 1941
  • Reclassified as an Unclassified Miscellaneous Auxiliary, IX-171, 1 June 1944
  • Decommissioned 11 September 1944
  • Struck from the Naval Register 23 September 1944
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission 15 November 1944 and renamed Illinois
    Naval Vessel Register of 1 January 1949 lists plan for transfer to the War Shipping Administration as November 1945
  • Sold in 1946 to Norway
  • Fate unknown.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 510 t.
  • Length 147' 5"
  • Beam 25'
  • Draft 12'
  • Speed 13 kts.
  • Armament: One 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
  • Propulsion: One 550shp Fairbanks Morse diesel engine, one shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Albatross 82k Namesake: Albatross - Any of the large, web-footed sea birds related to petrels Tommy Trampp
    Albatross 445k c. 1940/1941
    In the Boston area prior to her completed reconfiguration for naval service
    Photo from the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum    		 Darryl Baker
    Photo added 16 January 2022
    Albatross 155k World War II photo
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 89211    		 Mike Green
    Commanding Officers
    01LT Lysle Elbert Ellis, USN - USNA Class of 19228 November 1940 - September 1941
    02LT Bruce W. Evans, USNRSeptember 1941 - August 1942
    03LT Duane R. Stoneleigh, USNRAugust 1942 - September 1942
    04LT John Franklin Nelson, USNRSeptember 1942 - April 1943
    05LT William A. Jewett, USNRApril 1943 - August 1944
    06LT Frank O. Elliott, USNRAugust 1944 - 11 September 1944
    Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    View the Albatross (AM 71)
    DANFS History entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Website
    Back to the Main Photo Index Back to the Mine Ship Photo Index Back to the Minesweeper (AM) Photo Index Back to the Auxiliary Ship Index Back to the Unclassified Miscellaneous Auxiliary Ship (IX) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory) & David Wright
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