The USS Terror (CM-5) was a fleet minelayer built specifically for the United States Navy during World War II. Laid down on September 3, 1940, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, she was launched on June 6, 1941, and commissioned on July 15, 1942. As the only fleet minelayer constructed solely for minelaying purposes during the war, she was designed to support amphibious and naval operations by laying protective minefields. Terror’s service began with her arrival in New York on October 30, 1942, where she prepared for her first major operation supporting Operation Torch. She departed with Task Group 38.3 for North Africa, arriving near Casablanca in November 1942. Her primary mission at Casablanca was minelaying to create a protected harbor entrance, which she successfully completed on November 16, by laying a seven-mile-long minefield extending from El Hank Light, effectively blocking enemy submarines' access. Following her operations there, she unloaded supplies and ammunition despite logistical challenges. Throughout 1943 and 1944, Terror participated in numerous campaigns across the Pacific theater, including operations at Makin Island, Tarawa, and participating in the invasion of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She acted as a tender, flagship, and casualty evacuation vessel during intense combat operations, including providing support against kamikaze attacks. Notably, on May 1, 1945, she was hit by a kamikaze attack, resulting in 171 casualties and causing extensive damage, which required her to be transported back to the U.S. for repairs. After the war, she served in the Pacific, weathered typhoons, and supported various fleet operations until her inactivation in 1947. Reactivated briefly during the Korean War, she was redesignated as MM-5 in 1955 before being decommissioned on August 6, 1956. Her hull was sold in 1971. The USS Terror earned four battle stars for her distinguished service in World War II, marking her as a significant vessel in naval mine warfare and Pacific amphibious operations.

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