The USS Rhea (AMc-58) was a coastal minesweeper constructed primarily of wood, originally laid down as a wooden purse-seiner with Hull No. 250 by the Martinolich Shipbuilding Company. The vessel was acquired by the U.S. Navy on December 31, 1940, and officially designated as AMc-58. It was named Rhea on March 5, 1941, and launched on August 9, 1941, with Miss Marjorie Strong serving as the sponsor. The ship was placed in service on October 15, 1941, and was fitted out at San Diego, California. Designed for the hazardous task of removing mines from water, the Rhea was equipped with specialized gear—including acoustical, magnetic, and "O"-type minesweeping equipment—making her suitable for detecting and neutralizing various types of naval mines. During her service, the Rhea remained primarily on the U.S. West Coast, based in San Francisco, until early March 1942, when she sailed to the Hawaiian Islands to operate in the 14th Naval District. She arrived at Pearl Harbor on March 11, 1942, and conducted minesweeping operations in Hawaiian waters, contributing to the safety of Allied naval and merchant shipping during World War II. Following the end of hostilities, the USS Rhea returned to San Diego and was placed out of service on January 22, 1946. She was struck from the Navy list on February 7, 1946, and transferred to the Maritime Commission on December 30, 1947. Subsequently, she was sold to Demiter J. Callian. The USS Rhea’s service highlights her role in the vital, yet dangerous, mine-clearing operations that ensured safe passage for Allied vessels during the Pacific theater of World War II.

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