Soviet minesweeper T-119
T-119 was a minesweeper of the Soviet Navy during World War II and the Cold War. She had originally been built as USS Aspire (AM-146), an Admirable-class minesweeper, for the United States Navy during World War II, but never saw active service in the U.S. Navy. Upon completion she was transferred to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease as T-119; she was never returned to the United States. The ship was renamed several times in Soviet service and was scrapped on 4 November 1966. Because of the Cold War, the U.S. Navy was unaware of this fate and the vessel remained on the American Naval Vessel Register until she was struck on 1 January 1983.
| History | |
|---|---|
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} United States | |
| Name | USS Aspire (AMc-122) |
| Builder | Tampa Shipbuilding Company |
| Reclassified | AM-146, 21 February 1942 |
| Laid down | 1 November 1942 |
| Launched | 27 December 1942 |
| Completed | 29 September 1943 |
| Fate | Transferred to the Soviet Union, 29 September 1943 |
| Reclassified | MSF-146, 7 February 1955 |
| Stricken | 1 January 1983 |
| History | |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Soviet Union | |
| Name | T-119 |
| Acquired | 29 September 1943 |
| Renamed | TB-24, 11 July 1956 |
| Renamed | VTR-YYAO, 8 June 1966 |
| Fate | Scrapped, 4 November 1966 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Admirable-class minesweeper |
| Displacement | 650 tons |
| Length | 184 ft 6 in (56.24 m) |
| Beam | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Draft | 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 14.8 knots (27.4 km/h) |
| Complement | 104 |
| Armament |
|
Career
Aspire was laid down on 1 November 1942 at Tampa, Florida, by the Tampa Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 27 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. F. M. Arenberg; and completed on 29 September 1943. She was transferred to the Soviet Navy that same day as T-119. She was never returned to U.S. custody.
In Soviet service, the ship was renamed TB-24 on 11 July 1956, and VTR-YYAO on 8 June 1966. She was eventually scrapped on 4 November 1966.
Due to the ongoing Cold War, the U.S. Navy was unaware of this fate. They had reclassified the vessel as MSF-146 on 7 February 1955, and kept her on the American Naval Vessel Register until she was struck on 1 January 1983.
References
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
