Soviet minesweeper T-115

T-115 was a minesweeper of the Soviet Navy during World War II and the Cold War. She had originally been built as USS Apex (AM-142), 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-115; she was never returned to the United States. The ship was eventually scrapped on 1 June 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 Apex (AMc-119)
Builder	Tampa Shipbuilding Company
Reclassified	AM-142, 21 February 1942
Laid down	8 June 1942
Launched	7 December 1942
Completed	17 August 1943
Fate	Transferred to the Soviet Union, 17 August 1943
Reclassified	MSF-142, 7 February 1955
Stricken	1 January 1983
History
Soviet Union
Name	T-115
Acquired	17 August 1943
Renamed	Aydar, 1 September 1955
Fate	Scrapped, 1 June 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	2 × ALCO 539 diesel engines, 1,710 shp (1.3 MW) Farrel-Birmingham single reduction gear 2 shafts
Speed	14.8 knots (27.4 km/h)
Complement	104
Armament	1 × 3-inch/50-caliber gun DP 2 × twin Bofors 40 mm guns 1 × Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar 2 × Depth charge tracks

Career

Apex was laid down on 8 June 1942 at Tampa, Florida, by the Tampa Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 7 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. J. L. Chancey; and completed on 17 August 1943. She was transferred to the Soviet Navy that same day as T-115. She was never returned to U.S. custody.

In Soviet service she was renamed Aydar on 1 September 1955. She was eventually scrapped on 1 June 1966.

Due to the ongoing Cold War, the U.S. Navy was unaware of this fate. They had reclassified the vessel as MSF-142 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.

External links

• NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive – Apex (MSF 142) – ex-AM-142 – ex-AMc-119