The USS Auk (AM-38) was a Lapwing-class minesweeper constructed during World War I, designed for the dangerous task of clearing naval mines from sea lanes. Laid down on 20 June 1918 by the Todd Shipyard Corporation in New York City, she was launched on 28 September 1918 and commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 31 January 1919. The vessel measured approximately 187 feet in length with a beam of about 35 feet, and was equipped with equipment suitable for minesweeping operations, including paravanes ("Burney Gear") installed during her service. Initially, Auk served in the North Sea Mine Barrage clearance operations following World War I. Her first voyage took her from the U.S. to European waters, where she participated in sweeping roughly 55,000 mines laid between Scotland and Norway. During her deployment, Auk encountered several operational hazards, including a significant incident on 8 March 1919 when she took on water due to hull damage and had to seek refuge at Montauk Point. She also experienced her first fatality when a crewman was crushed by sweep wire during mine clearance. Throughout her minesweeping missions, Auk proved instrumental in supporting Allied efforts to clear the North Sea minefield, often operating in hazardous weather and under the threat of exploding mines. She worked alongside sister ships such as Oriole, Heron, and Sanderling, and served as the flagship for mine detachment commanders. Auk participated in multiple operations, including rescue efforts for damaged ships like USS Pelican, and was involved in dangerous chain reactions of mine explosions, demonstrating her resilience and importance in post-war mine clearance. After completing her North Sea missions in late September 1919, Auk returned to the United States, was assigned the hull number AM-38 in 1920, and was placed in reserve at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Transferred to the Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1922, she was renamed USC&GS Discoverer and served as a survey vessel primarily in Alaskan waters until 1941. Subsequently, she was taken over by the Navy in 1941, converted into a salvage vessel, and participated in wartime operations along the Alaskan coast during World War II. Ultimately, Auk was sold to Venezuela in 1947, renamed Felipe Larrazabal, and decommissioned in 1962. Her hulk remains abandoned at Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, as a testament to her extensive maritime service.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.