USS Phantom
USS Phantom was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was built to clear minefields in offshore waters, and served the Navy in the Atlantic Ocean and then was transferred to the North Pacific Ocean where she was transferred to the Chinese Navy as part of the lend lease program. Her American crew members returned home with the satisfaction that they had won three battle stars during the war.
Phantom was laid down by the Gulf Shipbuilding Co., Chickasaw, Alabama, 1 February 1943, launched 25 July 1943 and commissioned 17 May 1944.
World War II Atlantic operations
After shakedown she reported to ComServLant for duty 8 July 1944, and operated out of Norfolk, Virginia, on minesweeping and escort duties along the U.S. East Coast and off Bermuda for the balance of the year. In January 1945 she arrived off McNabs Island Nova Scotia, escorting USS Pontiac (AF-20) then stood by as Pontiac was beached in a sinking condition.Transfer to the Pacific Fleet
After further operations along the east coast from Boston, Massachusetts, to Jacksonville, Florida, she transited the Panama Canal 9 April 1945, and reached Pearl Harbor 4 May. Continuing on, she arrived at Okinawa 26 June and for the rest of the war swept mines off that hard-fought for island.In September she moved to Japan for minesweeping operations and in December shifted to the waters off the China coast. In January 1946 she got underway for the United States, arrived at San Diego, California, 18 February and in July headed west again. On 14 September she arrived at Subic Bay and reported for inactivation.