T-116 was a minesweeper of the Soviet Navy during World War II and the Cold War. She had originally been built as USS Arcade (AM-143), 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-116; she was never returned to the United States. The ship was renamed several times in Soviet service and was scrapped on 4 May 1963. 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.
Career
Arcade was laid down on 8 June 1942 at Tampa, Florida, by the Tampa Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 7 December 1942; sponsored by Miss V. Zoll; and completed on 26 August 1943. She was transferred to the Soviet Navy that same day as T-116. She was never returned to U.S. custody.
On 5 September 1944, while on patrol in Kara Sea, T-116 attacked and sunk with depth charges the German submarine U-362.[1]
In Soviet service the ship was renamed TB-23 on 11 July 1956, and SM-7 on 23 October 1962. The ship was eventually scrapped on 4 May 1963.
Due to the ongoing Cold War, the U.S. Navy was unaware of this fate. They had reclassified the vessel as MSF-143 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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