USS Finch (AM-9)

History
United States
Name	USS Finch
Builder	Standard Shipbuilding Co., New York
Launched	30 March 1918
Commissioned	10 September 1918, as Minesweeper No.9
Reclassified	AM-9, 17 July 1920
Stricken	8 May 1942
Honours and awards	1 battle star (World War II)
Fate	damaged by Japanese bomb, 10 April 1942
Notes	salvaged by Japanese
History
Japan
Name	PB-103
Fate	Sunk by United States bombs, 12 January 1945
General characteristics
Class and type	Lapwing-class minesweeper
Displacement	950 long tons (965 t)
Length	187 ft 10 in (57.25 m)
Beam	35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
Draft	10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)
Speed	14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement	78
Armament	2 × 3 in (76 mm) guns

USS Finch (AM-9) was a Lapwing-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing. Finch was named for the finch, and is strictly speaking the only U.S. vessel named for such.

Finch was launched 30 March 1918 by Standard Shipbuilding Co., New York; sponsored by Mrs. F. G. Peabody; and commissioned 10 September 1918.