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
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
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.


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