The USS Starling (AM-64) was an Auk-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II. Constructed by the General Engineering and Drydock Co. in Alameda, California, she was laid down on July 1, 1941, launched on April 11, 1942, and commissioned on December 21, 1942. As an Auk-class vessel, she was designed for the hazardous task of removing naval mines to ensure safe passage for Allied ships. Following her commissioning and initial fitting out, the Starling departed San Francisco on January 22, 1943, heading for Hawaii, arriving at Pearl Harbor on February 1. Her early service involved shuttling between Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, the New Hebrides, and New Caledonia, performing minesweeping and convoy escort duties in the South Pacific. Notably, between October and November 1943, she was involved in clearing significant minefields in Ferguson Passage, Kula Gulf, and Vella Gulf, destroying 135 mines in the process. In 1944, Starling participated in the Mariana campaign, supporting the amphibious assault against Guam, and later operated off Okinawa, Iwo Jima, and the Philippines. She performed minesweeping, antisubmarine patrols, and convoy duties throughout her service in the Pacific Theater. After hostilities ended, she swept mines in the Chu Shan archipelago and Japanese waters, including operations near Sasebo, Japan. Following the war, the Starling was decommissioned on May 15, 1946, and placed in reserve. She was reclassified as MSF-64 in 1955 and remained in naval service until she was struck from the Navy list on July 1, 1972. Subsequently, she was sold to Mexico in 1973 and renamed ARM Valentín Gómez Farías (C79), later changing pennant numbers to G11 and P110. As of 2007, she was active in the Mexican Navy. Throughout her service, the USS Starling earned three battle stars for her contributions during World War II, marking her as a notable vessel in minesweeping operations and Pacific theater campaigns.

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