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USS Hunting following her 1954 conversion to a Sonar Research Ship
History
United States
Name	LSM-398 (1945—1957) Hunting (1957—1962) Western Squaw (1966—1972) Sensibar Booster (1972—1983)
Namesake	Hunting Island in South Carolina
Owner	U.S. Navy (1945—1963) Commercial Manufacturing Co. (1963—1966) Western Contracting Co. (1966—1972) Construction Aggregates Co. (1972—1983)
Ordered	1944
Builder	Charleston Navy Yard
Laid down	16 December 1944
Launched	6 January 1945
Commissioned	6 August 1945, as LSM-398
Decommissioned	23 November 1962
Renamed	Hunting, 13 June 1957
Reclassified	E-AG-398, 13 June 1957
Refit	Converted to sonar research ship, June 1953-October 1954
Identification	Official number: 506178 after Navy disposal
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 30 July 1963 Registered as dredge 1966 Out of documentation 1983 Scrapped between 1983 and 1989
General characteristics
Class and type	LSM-1-class landing ship medium
Displacement	1,095 long tons (1,113 t) full load
Length	203 ft 6 in (62.03 m) o/a
Beam	34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
Draft	Light : 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) forward 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) aft Full load : 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) forward 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) aft
Propulsion	2 × General Motors (non-reversing with airflex clutch) diesels, direct drive with 1,440 bhp (1,074 kW) each at 720 rpm, twin screws
Speed	13.2 knots (24.4 km/h; 15.2 mph) (928 tons displacement)
Range	4,900 nmi (9,100 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) (928 tons displacement)
Capacity	5 medium tank or 3 heavy tanks, or 6 LVT's, or 9 DUKW's
Troops	2 officers, 46 enlisted
Complement	5 officers, 54 enlisted
Armament	1 × single 40 mm 4 × single 20 mm guns AA gun mounts
Armor	10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station

USS Hunting (E-AG-398) was built as the LSM-1-class landing ship medium LSM-398 at the Charleston Navy Yard and launched in the first week of 1945. After service in the Atlantic as a landing ship the vessel was converted in 1953 to a sonar research vessel for the Naval Research Laboratory. Hunting was unique among Navy research vessels of the time in having a center well through which large towed "fish" could be transported and lowered to operating depths. The work contributed to sonar improvements and understanding ocean acoustics.

After sale by the Navy in 1963 the vessel operated as a dredge until out of documentation in 1983.

Landing ship (1945-1953)

Launched as the LSM-398 by the Charleston Navy Yard, on 6 January 1945; sponsored by Mrs. T. B. Thompson; and commissioned on 6 August 1945.

Based at Little Creek, Virginia, the ship operated as a part of the Amphibious Fleet in the Atlantic, taking part in many training assaults (such as "Exercise Seminole" in 1947) in the Caribbean Sea and on the Atlantic coast.

Sonar research ship (1954-1959)

The Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Sonar Systems Branch began work on transducers operating at low frequences with specific test frequencies of 1, 5 and 10 kHz. Very large transducers were required for those frequencies. The transducers were to be towed and operated in exploration of the deep sound channel at about 1,000 m (3,280.8 ft). The transducer to be towed was 30,000 pounds (14,000 kg), 28 ft (8.5 m) long, 9 ft (2.7 m) wide, 10 ft (3.0 m) high and beyond the means of conventional over the side or stern launching. The solution was to modify the LSM assigned to NRL so that the towed vehicle could be launched and towed through a center well.

Conversion of LSM-398 began in June 1953 according to plans developed by Bureau of Ships at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. A center well 30 ft (9.1 m) long by 12 ft (3.7 m) wide was cut through the centerline with an elevator carriage to house the towed body, or "fish", as it was raised and lowered through the well. A bridge above the well was the upper position of the carriage was 18 ft (5.5 m) above the main deck so that the well doors could be closed and the fish could be lowered to the main deck onto the closed doors. In the towing position the carriage would be locked at keel level and the fish towed at depth on a 2.5 in (6.4 cm) multiple conductor double armored cable with a breaking strength of 250,000 pounds (110,000 kg). The center well was a unique feature for Navy Research vessels at the time.

After conversion the LSM reported to Operational Development Force on 1 October 1954 to begin operations with NRL. LSM-398 was reclassified E-AG-398 and assigned the name Hunting on 13 June 1957. The ship's testing and evaluation activities took her from the Naval Research Laboratory near Washington into the Chesapeake Bay, the coastal waters off the Virginia Capes, and the Caribbean. She played a vital part in the development of new and better Navy sonar equipment.

The ship was used by the Naval Research Laboratory in tests of a subset of the transducer element modules for the active acoustic source for Project Artemis when the initial elements failed due to inter element coupling, nonuniform displacement across the face of array and element destruction.

Despite problems with the well design, wave action in the well and air compression under the doors causing them to lift off their tracks, the ship successfully towed equipment to depths of 15,000 ft (4,572.0 m) until engine failure too expensive to repair after a mistake during shipyard repairs led to the ship's retirement in 1959. An issue with the ship leading to retirement was corrosion of the hull under the engine compartment due to electrical currents in the water and incompatibility of World War II steel with more modern steel leading to cracking during attempted repairs. Ability to place and tow experimental equipment at desired depths led to major findings in ocean acoustics and understanding of convergence zones. The experience with the well contributed to the design of the improved well installed in USNS Mizar.

Hunting was decommissioned on 23 November 1962 at Portsmouth, Virginia and sold on 30 July 1963 to Commercial Manufacturing Corp., Kansas City, Missouri.

Commercial dredge (1966-1983)

In 1966 the vessel was registered as Western Squaw with official number 506178 by the Western Contracting Corporation as a dredge. The dredge was based at Omaha, Nebraska and moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1970 until sold in 1972 to Construction Aggregates Corporation and renamed Sensibar Booster. The dredge was then homeported in Wilmington, Delaware until out of documentation in 1983. The vessel was scrapped up between 1983 and 1989.

References

1. ^ Naval History And Heritage Command (20 July 2015). "Hunting". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History And Heritage Command. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
2. NavSource (2020). "USS Hunting (E-AG-398)". NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive. NavSource. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
3. ^ Gennari, J. J. (1 January 1967). Center-Well Installation of USNS MIZAR (T-AGOR-11) (PDF) (Report). Washington, D.C.: Naval Research Laboratory. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
4. ^ Brundage, Walter (29 November 1988). NRL's Deep Sea Floor Search ERA - A Brief History of the NRL/MIZAR Search System and Its Major Achievements (PDF) (Report). Washington, D.C.: Naval Research Laboratory. pp. 4, 15. S2CID 115800806. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
5. ^ Erskine, Fred T. III (August 2013). A History of the Acoustics Division of the Naval Research Laboratory The First Eight Decades 1923—2008 (PDF) (Report). Washington, D.C.: Naval Research Laboratory. pp. 56–47. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
6. Nelson, Stewart B. (1971). Oceanographic Ships, Fore and Aft. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office (Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy.). p. 151. LCCN 71614043. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
7. McClinton, A. T. (8 March 1962). Project Artemis Acoustic Source — Description and Characteristics of the Facility as Installed on the USNS MISSION CAPISTRANO (T-AG 162) (PDF) (Report). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. pp. 15–16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 February 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
8. Williams, Greg H. (2013). World War II U.S. Navy Vessels in Private Hands: The Boats and Ships Sold and Registered for Commercial and Tecreational Purposes Under the American Flag. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 68. ISBN 9780786466450. LCCN 2012048527. Retrieved 25 April 2020.

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

External links

• Photo gallery of USS Hunting at NavSource Naval History

v t e LSM-1-class landing ships medium
LSM-1 – LSM-99 LSM-1 LSM-2 LSM-3 LSM-4 LSM-5 LSM-6 LSM-7 LSM-8 LSM-9 LSM-10 LSM-11 LSM-12 LSM-13 LSM-14 LSM-15 LSM-16 LSM-17 LSM-18 LSM-19 LSM-20 LSM-21 LSM-22 LSM-23 LSM-24 LSM-25 LSM-26 LSM-27 LSM-28 LSM-29 LSM-30 LSM-31 LSM-32 LSM-33 LSM-34 LSM-35 LSM-36 LSM-37 LSM-38 LSM-39 LSM-40 LSM-41 LSM-42 LSM-43 LSM-44 LSM-45 LSM-46 LSM-47 LSM-48 LSM-49 LSM-50 LSM-51 LSM-52 LSM-53 LSM-54 LSM-55 LSM-56 LSM-57 LSM-58 LSM-59 LSM-60 LSM-61 LSM-62 LSM-63 LSM-64 LSM-65 LSM-66 LSM-67 LSM-68 LSM-69 LSM-70 LSM-71 LSM-72 LSM-73 LSM-74 LSM-75 LSM-76 LSM-77 LSM-78 LSM-79 LSM-80 LSM-81 LSM-82 LSM-83 LSM-84 LSM-85 LSM-86 LSM-87 LSM-88 LSM-89 LSM-90 LSM-91 LSM-92 LSM-93 LSM-94 LSM-95 LSM-96 LSM-97 LSM-98 LSM-99
LSM-100 – LSM-187 LSM-100 LSM-101 LSM-102 LSM-103 LSM-104 LSM-105 LSM-106 LSM-107 LSM-108 LSM-109 LSM-110 LSM-111 LSM-112 LSM-113 LSM-114 LSM-115 LSM-116 LSM-117 LSM-118 LSM-119 LSM-120 LSM-121 LSM-122 LSM-123 LSM-124 LSM-125 LSM-126 LSM-127 LSM-128 LSM-129 LSM-130 LSM-131 LSM-132 LSM-133 LSM-134 LSM-135 LSM-136 LSM-137 LSM-138 LSM-139 LSM-140 LSM-141 LSM-142 LSM-143 LSM-144 LSM-145 LSM-146 LSM-147 LSM-148 LSM-149 LSM-150 LSM-151 LSM-152 LSM-153 LSM-154 LSM-155 LSM-156 LSM-157 LSM-158 LSM-159 LSM-160 LSM-161 / Kodiak LSM-162 LSM-163 LSM-164 LSM-165 LSM-166 LSM-167 LSM-168 LSM-169 LSM-170 LSM-171 LSM-172 LSM-173 LSM-174 LSM-175 / Oceanside LSM-176 LSM-177 LSM-178 LSM-179 LSM-180 LSM-181 LSM-182 LSM-183 LSM-184 LSM-185 LSM-186 LSM-187
LSM-200 – LSM-299 LSM-200 LSM-201 LSM-202 LSM-203 LSM-204 LSM-205 LSM-206 LSM-207 LSM-208 LSM-209 LSM-210 LSM-211 LSM-212 LSM-213 LSM-214 LSM-215 LSM-216 LSM-217 LSM-218 LSM-219 LSM-220 LSM-221 LSM-222 LSM-223 LSM-224 LSM-225 LSM-226 LSM-227 LSM-228 LSM-229 LSM-230 LSM-231 LSM-232 LSM-233 LSM-234 LSM-235 LSM-236 LSM-237 LSM-238 LSM-239 LSM-240 LSM-241 LSM-242 LSM-243 LSM-244 LSM-245 LSM-246 LSM-247 LSM-248 LSM-249 LSM-250 LSM-251 LSM-252 LSM-253 LSM-254 LSM-255 LSM-256 LSM-257 LSM-258 LSM-259 LSM-260 LSM-261 LSM-262 LSM-263 LSM-264 LSM-265 LSM-266 LSM-267 LSM-268 LSM-269 LSM-270 LSM-271 LSM-272 LSM-273 LSM-274 LSM-275 / Portunus LSM-276 LSM-277 LSM-278 LSM-279 LSM-280 LSM-281 LSM-282 LSM-283 LSM-284 LSM-285 LSM-286 LSM-287 LSM-288 LSM-289 LSM-290 LSM-291 LSM-292 LSM-293 LSM-294 LSM-295 LSM-296 LSM-297 LSM-298 LSM-299
LSM-300 – LSM-400 LSM-300 LSM-301 / MMC-6 LSM-302 LSM-303 / MMC-7 LSM-304 LSM-305 LSM-306 LSM-307 LSM-308 LSM-309 LSM-310 LSM-311 LSM-312 LSM-313 LSM-314 LSM-315 LSM-316 LSM-317 LSM-318 LSM-319 LSM-320 LSM-321 LSM-322 LSM-323 LSM-324 LSM-325 LSM-326 LSM-327 LSM-328 LSM-329 LSM-330 LSM-331 LSM-332 LSM-333 LSM-334 LSM-335 / T-LSM-335 LSM-336 LSM-337 LSM-338 LSM-339 LSM-340 LSM-341 LSM-342 LSM-343 LSM-344 LSM-345 LSM-346 LSM-347 LSM-348 LSM-349 LSM-350 LSM-351 LSM-352 LSM-353 LSM-354 LSM-355 LSM-356 LSM-357 LSM-358 LSM-359 LSM-360 LSM-361 LSM-362 LSM-363 LSM-364 LSM-365 LSM-366 LSM-367 LSM-368 LSM-369 LSM-370 LSM-371 LSM-372 LSM-373 / Lakeland LSM-374 LSM-375 LSM-376 LSM-377 LSM-378 LSM-379 LSM-380 LSM-381 LSM-382 LSM-383 LSM-384 LSM-385 LSM-386 LSM-387 LSM-388 LSM-389 / MMC-8 LSM-390 LSM-391 LSM-392 / MMC-9 LSM-393 LSM-394 LSM-395 LSM-396 LSM-397 LSM-398 / Hunting LSM-399 LSM-400
LSM-413 – LSM-500 LSM-413 LSM-414 LSM-415 LSM-416 LSM-417 LSM-418 LSM-419 LSM-420 LSM-421 LSM-422 LSM-423 LSM-424 LSM-425 LSM-426 LSM-427 LSM-428 LSM-429 LSM-430 LSM-431 LSM-432 LSM-433 LSM-434 LSM-435 LSM-436 LSM-437 LSM-438 LSM-439 LSM-440 LSM-441 LSM-442 LSM-443 LSM-444 LSM-445 / E-LSM-445 / Catapult LSM-446 / E-LSM-446 / Launcher LSM-447 LSM-448 LSM-449 LSM-450 LSM-451 LSM-452 LSM-453 LSM-454 LSM-455 LSM-456 LSM-457 LSM-458 LSM-459 LSM-460 LSM-461 LSM-462 LSM-463 / T-LSM-463 LSM-464 LSM-465 LSM-466 LSM-467 LSM-468 LSM-469 LSM-470 LSM-471 LSM-472 LSM-473 LSM-474 LSM-475 LSM-476 LSM-477 LSM-478 LSM-479 LSM-480 LSM-481 / MMC-10 LSM-482 LSM-483 LSM-484 / MMC-11 LSM-485 LSM-486 LSM-487 LSM-488 LSM-489 LSM-490 / MMC-12 LSM-491 LSM-492 / MMC-13 LSM-493 / MMC-14 LSM-494 LSM-495 LSM-496 LSM-497 LSM-498 LSM-499 LSM-500
LSM-537 – LSM-558 LSM-537 LSM-538 LSM-539 LSM-540 / Raritan LSM-541 LSM-542 LSM-543 LSM-544 LSM-545 LSM-546 LSM-547 LSM-548 LSM-549 / Gypsy LSM-550 / Mender LSM-551 / Salvager LSM-552 / Windlass LSM-553 LSM-554 LSM-555 LSM-556 LSM-557 LSM-558
Other operators  Argentine Navy BDM-1 (ex-LSM-267) BDM-2 / Corrientes (ex-LSM-86)  Australian Army Harry Chauvel (ex-LSM-319) Brudenell White (ex-LSM-477) Vernon Sturdee (ex-LSM-315) Clive Steele (ex-LSM-547)  Brazilian Navy Gonçalo Coelho (ex-LSM-119)  Chilean Navy Aspirante Morel (LSM-31) (ex-LSM-417) Aspirante Goycolea (ex-LSM-400) Aspirante Morel (LSM-92) (ex-LSM-444) Aspirante Isaza (ex-LSM-295) Guardiamarina Contreras (ex-LSM-113)  Republic of China Navy Mei Chin class Mei Lo (LSM-242) (ex-LSM-157) Mei Kun (ex-LSM-478) Mei Chin (ex-LSM-155) Mei Hua (ex-LSM-256) Mei Hong (ex-LSM-442) Mei Peng (ex-LSM-431) Mei Heng (ex-LSM-456) Mei Song (ex-LSM-457) Mei He (ex-LSM-13) Mei Jian (ex-LSM-76) Mei Cheng (ex-LSM-422) Mei Ping (ex-LSM-471) Mei Han (ex-LSM-474) Mei Lo (LSM-356) (ex-LSM-362) Mei Yi (ex-LSM-285) ex-LSM-43 ex-LSM-62 ex-LSM-69 ex-LSM-80 ex-LSM-88 ex-LSM-112 ex-LSM-124 ex-LSM-146 ex-LSM-147 ex-LSM-153 ex-LSM-154 ex-LSM-159 ex-LSM-208 ex-LSM-218 ex-LSM-225 ex-LSM-248 ex-LSM-249 ex-LSM-278 ex-LSM-280 ex-LSM-282 ex-LSM-284 ex-LSM-290 ex-LSM-292 ex-LSM-293 ex-LSM-308 ex-LSM-336 ex-LSM-337 ex-LSM-339 ex-LSM-349 ex-LSM-363 ex-LSM-374 ex-LSM-376 ex-LSM-386 ex-LSM-387 ex-LSM-391 ex-LSM-393 ex-LSM-423 ex-LSM-427 ex-LSM-430 ex-LSM-433 ex-LSM-439 ex-LSM-453 ex-LSM-461 ex-LSM-470 ex-LSM-472 ex-LSM-475 ex-LSM-482 ex-LSM-489  People's Liberation Army Navy HUA-201 (ex-LSM-112) HUA-202 (ex-LSM-248) HUA-204 (ex-LSM-430) HUA-207 (ex-LSM-282) HUA-208 (ex-LSM-42) Huang Ho (ex-LSM-433) ex-LSM-43 ex-LSM-124 ex-LSM-153 ex-LSM-208 ex-LSM-218 ex-LSM-225 ex-LSM-237? ex-LSM-336 ex-LSM-391 ex-LSM-453? ex-LSM-475? ex-LSM-482 ex-LSM-489  Royal Danish Navy Hjaelperen (ex-LSM-500) Beskytteren (ex-LSM-390) Vindhunden (ex-LSM-392)  Dominican Navy San Rafael (ex-LSM-216) Sirio (ex-LSM-483) Antares (ex-LSM-538)  Ecuadorian Navy Jambeli (ex-LSM-539) Tarqui (ex-LSM-555)  French Navy L9011 (ex-LSM-355) L9012 (ex-LSM-110) L9013 (ex-LSM-125) L9014 (ex-LSM-316) L9015 (ex-LSM-422) L9016 (ex-LSM-478) L9017 (ex-LSM-17) L9018 (ex-LSM-58) L9019 (ex-LSM-226) L9051 (ex-LSM-85) L9052 (ex-LSM-471) ex-LSM-479  German Navy Krokodil (ex-LSM-537) Eidechse (ex-LSM-491) Salamander (ex-LSM-553) Viper (ex-LSM-558)  Hellenic Navy Ypoploiarkhos Grigoropoulos (ex-LSM-45) Ypoploiarkhos Toyrnas (ex-LSM-102) Daniolos (ex-LSM-227) Ypoploiarkhos Roussen (ex-LSM-399) Krystalldis (ex-LSM-541) Merlin (ex-LSM-557) Aktion (ex-LSM-301) Amvrakia (ex-LSM-303)  Indonesian Navy ex-LSM-354  Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force LSM-3001 (ex-LSM-125)  Republic of Korea Navy Daecho (ex-LSM-546) Yeo Do (ex-LSM-268) Dokdo (ex-LSM-419) Gadeok (ex-LSM-462) Ku Moon (ex-LSM-30) Bian (ex-LSM-96) Pungdo (ex-LSM-54) Wolmi (ex-LSM-57) Girin (ex-LSM-19) Neongna (ex-LSM-84) Sinmmi (ex-LSM-311) Ulleung (ex-LSM-17)  Royal Norwegian Navy Vale (ex-LSM-492) Vidar (ex-LSM-493)  Paraguayan Navy Teniente Pratt Gill / Boqueron (ex-Corrientes)  Peruvian Navy Lomas (ex-LSM-396) Atico (ex-LSM-554)  Philippine Navy Batanes (L-65) (ex-LSM-236) Isabela (ex-T-LSM-463) Batanes (LP-65) (ex-Hương Giang) Western Samar (ex-Hát Giang) Oriental Mindoro (ex-LSM-320) ex-Hàn Giang (cannibalized for parts)  Portuguese Navy Medusa / São Rafael (ex-Portunus)  Spanish Navy LSM-1 (ex-LSM-329) LSM-2 (ex-LSM-331) LSM-3 (ex-LSM-343)  Royal Thai Navy Kut (ex-LSM-333) Phai (ex-LSM-338) Kram (ex-LSM-469)  Turkish Navy Mordoğan (ex-LSM-484) Meriç (ex-LSM-490) Marmaris (ex-LSM-481) Mersin (ex-Vale) Mürefte (ex-Vidar)  Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela Friars (ex-LSM-544) Los Testigos (ex-LSM-545) Monk (ex-LSM-548) Roques (ex-LSM-543) ex-LSM-370 (cannibalized for parts) ex-LSM-542 (cannibalized for parts)  Republic of Vietnam Navy Hát Giang (ex-L9011) Hàn Giang (ex-L9012) Lam Giang (ex-LSM-226) Ninh Giang (ex-LSM-85) Hương Giang (ex-Oceanside) Tiền Giang (ex-LSM-313) Hậu Giang (ex-LSM-276) ex-LSM-58  Vietnam People's Navy ex-Ninh Giang ex-Tiền Giang ex-Hậu Giang
Preceded by: None Followed by: LSM(R)-188 class
List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships

• Ships built in Charleston, South Carolina
• World War II amphibious warfare vessels of the United States
• 1945 ships
• LSM-1-class landing ships medium
• Cold War auxiliary ships of the United States
• Research vessels of the United States Navy