From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

A type of cuckoo shrike of Asiatic origin.

(AM-371; dp. 890; 1. 221'1"; b. 32'2"; dr. 10'9"; s. 18.1 k.; cpl. 10a; a. 1 3", 2 40mm., 8 20mm., 1 dcp.; cl. Auk)

Minivet (AM-371) was laid down 19 July 1944 by Savannah Machine & Foundry Co., Savannah, Gal: launched 8 November 1944; sponsored by Miss Henrietta G. Jerrell; commissioned 29 May 1945, Lt. Comdr. Richard Lagreze in command.

Minivet concluded shakedown training at Little Creek, Va., and 22 August steamed out of Norfolk en route to assignment in the Far East. She arrived Sasebo, Japan 30 October with Mine Division 23 to play her part in opening the sealanes to peacetime commerce.

During her first month in the area, escort trips to Pusan, Korea, and from Okinawa left little time to stream her minesweeping gear. After a brief availability period AM-371 departed Sasebo 23 December in company with eight Japanese vessels to complete the sweeping of the Tsushima Straits. Following in the wake of the second pass of the day on 29 December she struck a mine and in a matter of minutes rolled over and sank. Despite the discipline and courageous action of her crew and the bravery of American and Japanese rescuers, Minivet suffered 31 men killed or miming. She became the first American minesweeper lost during these hazardous operations that had destroyed 20,000 mines since the end of the war. Her name was stricken from the Navy list 21 January 1946 after logbook and last survivors had returned to the United States.

Minivet (AM-371) received one battle star for her service in the aftermath of World War II.