USS Raven ( AM - 55 ) USS " Raven " ( AM - 55 ) , the lead ship of her class of minesweeper , was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the raven . Her keel was laid down on 28 June 1939 by the Norfolk Navy Yard in Portsmouth , Virginia . She was launched on 24 August 1940 sponsored by Miss Elizabeth Scott Baker , and commissioned on 11 November 1940 . Service History . 1940 - 1945 World War II . Following shakedown , " Raven " was assigned to Mine Division 21 and operated out of Norfolk , Virginia , engaged in training , patrol , and escort of ships to and from port until 14 March 1941 . She then escorted a convoy to Portsmouth , New Hampshire , and several convoys between Norfolk and Newport , Rhode Island . She resumed local operations out of Norfolk from 23 July 1941 to April 1942 . In April 1942 , serving as antisubmarine screen , she made runs to Halifax , Nova Scotia , and Portland , Maine . She then extended her range to the Panama Canal Zone , and on her return resumed coastal escort runs to Boston , Massachusetts , Portland , Maine , and Sydney , Nova Scotia . Returning to Norfolk 8 July , she made three escort runs to Bermuda , then , in September , operated off the coast of New England and the Maritime Provinces . Back at Norfolk at the end of September , " Raven " departed Chesapeake Bay on 23 October in company with other U . S . warships and a convoy and proceeded to North Africa . Arriving on 8 November 1942 , she participated in sweeping , antisubmarine , antiaircraft , and landing operations in support of the invasion of Morocco , continuing those duties until 21 February 1943 . " Raven " then departed African waters in the escorting screen of a Norfolk - bound convoy . Arriving 14 March she conducted local patrol , coastwise and Caribbean Sea escort operations until April 1944 . " Raven " then departed Norfolk , and proceeded with other U . S . warships and a convoy to England to prepare for the invasion of France . On 5 June " Raven " proceeded to her assigned area off Normandy and participated in the sweep of the fire control area for Utah Beach . From this time until August she was active in clearing approach channels to the Normandy beachheads . In August 1944 she sailed to Oran , thence to Naples , Italy . From then until June 1945 she performed sweeping and patrol duty in the Straits of Bonifacio , clearing the way for ships en route to the invasion of southern France , and sweeping off the French Riviera and Italian Riviera and off Corsica . During the entire European operation , including D - Day , " Raven " swept 21 German and Italian naval mine s . 1945 - 1967 Decommissioning , reclassification and disposal . In June 1945 , " Raven " returned to Norfolk , and after overhaul , departed Norfolk 1 October 1945 and proceeded to San Pedro , California , where she remained through November . She arrived at Portland , Oregon , on 1 December , but returned to San Diego , California , by the end of the month . On 31 May 1946 " Raven " was decommissioned and placed in reserve at San Diego . Reclassified MSF - 55 , 7 February 1955 , she remained berthed at San Diego until struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 May 1967 . Later that year she was sunk as a target in deep water off the coast of southern California . Honours . " Raven " earned three battle star s for World War II service .