USS Catbird (AM-68) was the lead ship

Lead ship

The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:...

 of her class of two naval trawler

Naval trawler

A naval trawler is a vessel built along the lines of a fishing trawler but fitted out for naval purposes. Naval trawlers were widely used during the First and Second world wars. Fishing trawlers were particularly suited for many naval requirements because they were robust boats designed to work...

s, which were operated as minesweepers by the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 during World War II.

Built in 1938 by Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...

, as MV Bittern, the ship was acquired by the U.S. Navy on 12 August 1940, and commissioned on 27 November 1940, Lieutenant E. Johnson, USNR, in command.

World War II East Coast operations

USS Catbird operated in New England

New England

New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...

 waters through 31 March 1941, engaged in tests and exercises. After overhaul at Brooklyn, New York, she sailed on 5 October for Cristobal where she remained until 29 January 1944, on duty in the 15th Naval District. Returning to the east coast she engaged in local operations at Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....

, until 16 April 1944 when she sailed to Boston, Massachusetts, arriving 19 April.

Reclassified as IX-183

She was reclassified as Unclassified Miscellaneous Auxiliary IX-183 on 15 August 1944, and was placed out of commission in service 17 August 1944.

Catbird provided services out of New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

 until 23 May 1945, then operated in Cape Cod

Cape Cod

Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...

 waters until 3 June under direction of Naval Mine Testing Facilities.

End of service

Returning to New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

 on 4 June, she was placed out of service and laid up 7 November 1945, and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal on 24 January 1947.