The USS Magpie (AMc-2) was a Pipit-class coastal minesweeper built originally as the fishing trawler FV City of San Pedro in 1936 by Harbor Boat Building Co. located in Terminal Island, California. Acquired by the United States Navy on 18 October 1940, the vessel was converted from its fishing vessel configuration into a minesweeper by the same builder. She was officially renamed Magpie on 29 October 1940 and entered service on 28 March 1941. Designed for clearing minefields in coastal waterways, the Magpie was assigned to the 15th Naval District. Her operational area included the Panama Canal Zone, where she departed San Pedro, California, on 10 May 1941 and arrived at Balboa, Panama, on 22 May. Throughout her service, she conducted minesweeping and patrol operations out of Balboa, ensuring the safety of Allied shipping in the strategic region during World War II. The vessel's duties in the Panama Canal Zone continued until 7 August 1944, after which she departed for the west coast of the United States, arriving in San Diego, California, on 26 August. Her service was relatively brief thereafter, as she was placed out of service at San Pedro on 6 October 1944. The USS Magpie was struck from the Navy List on 22 December 1944 and subsequently transferred to the War Shipping Administration for return to her former owner on 5 February 1945. Throughout her operational history, USS Magpie served as a vital part of the Navy’s coastal defense efforts during World War II, primarily focusing on mine clearance operations in the strategically significant Panama Canal area. Her conversion from a fishing vessel to a minesweeper exemplifies the adaptability of civilian ships to wartime needs, contributing to the safety of Allied maritime routes.

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