>Broadbill AM-58
Broadbill
Broadbill is any of certain ducks related to the canvasback and the redhead.
SP-823, a 66-foot motor boat of 1918-19, was also known as Broadbill.
(AM-58: dp. 890; 1. 221'2"; b. 32'2"; dr. 10'9"; s. 18.
1 k.; cpl. 105; a. 13"; cl. Auk)
Broadbill (AM-58) was launched 21 May 1942 by Defoe Shipbuilding Co., Bay City, Mich.; sponsored by Mr-s. A. Loring Swasey, wife of Captain Swasey; commissioned 13 October 1942, Lieutenant Commander J. B. Cleland, Jr., in command; and reported at Boston to Commander, Service Force, Atlantic Fleet.
Until April 1944 Broadbill escorted convoys between east and Gulf coast ports and made two voyages to the Caribbean. On 11 April 1944 she got underway for England where she conducted numerous practice sweeps in preparation for the Normandy invasion.
On 5 June Broadbill, as a unit of Mine Squadron 7, in company with 10 other AM's cleared the approach channel to Utah Beach for fire support ships and on 6 June commenced sweeping the actual support area. On 25 June she helped clear fire support areas off Cherbourg. Operations were continued off England and France until August. She then proceeded to Naples, via Oran, Algeria, and conducted sweeping operations in the Ligurian Sea, Bonifacio Straits, and around Sardinia and Corsica. Completing this assignment, Mine Squadron 7 arrived at Cavalaire Bay in southern France 23 August 1944 to clear French harbors and approaches during the invasion of southern France. On 28 May 1945 Broadbill, in company with Mine Division 21, departed for Norfolk where she underwent repairs until 30 August 1945.
On 17 September 1945, in company with Service Squadron 5, Broadbill got underway for San Pedro, Calif. She was subsequently ordered to Astoria, Oreg., arriving 7 December for prq-inactivation overhaul. Broadbill went out of commission\,in reserve at San Diego 3 June 1946.
Recommissioned 19 March 1952, Broadbill operated off the California coast until 27 June 1952. She then sailed to Charleston, S. C., arriving 15 July. During the remainder of 1952 she operated out of Charleston and conducted one Caribbean training cruise.
In January 1953 she proceeded to the Mediterranean for a cruise with the 6th Fleet, returning to Charleston 21 May 1953. She conducted routine operations off the Atlantic coast until August when she reported for inactivation overhaul. Broadbill was placed out of commission in reserve 25 January 1954, berthed at Orange, Tex. She was reclassified MSP-58 on 7 February 1955.
Broadbill received two battle stars for her World War II operations.