USS Saunter ( AM - 295 ) USS " Saunter " ( AM - 295 ) was an Admirable - class minesweeper built for the U . S . Navy during World War II . She was built to clear minefields in offshore waters . " Saunter " was laid down on 23 November 1942 by Winslow Marine Railway and Shipbuilding Co . , Seattle , Washington , launched on 20 February 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . Merle Black , and commissioned on 22 January 1944 , Lt . Comdr . James R . Keefer in command . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . After shakedown , " Saunter " sailed from San Francisco , California , on 1 April 1944 for Hawaii , and commenced three months of convoy duty between Pearl Harbor , Majuro , Midway Island , and Kwajalein . Between 6 and 15 August , she swept an old United States minefield in the French Frigate Shoals , northwest of Oahu . She arrived at Manus in mid - September and reported to the 7th Fleet for the Leyte invasion . Searching for survivors . On 20 October , she joined her division , Mine Division 34 , off the Leyte beaches for a four - day minesweep of the main transport channel , and then anchored with the transports to provide antiaircraft support . Between 27 and 31 October , she helped search for survivors at the scene of the Battle off Samar , where Rear Admiral Sprague ' s escort carrier s had withstood the attack of a superior Japanese force . For the next month , she carried out local patrols and sweeps in the vicinity of Leyte . Supporting Philippine Islands Invasion . " Saunter " participated with her Division in most of the subsequent landings in the Philippines . She carried out pre - invasion sweeps at Ormoc Bay on 6 December ; Mindoro Island on 14 December ; Lingayen Gulf on 6 January 1945 ; and Zambales and Subic Bay from 29 through 31 January . During and after the initial troop landings , she helped extend the mineswept areas and provided antisubmarine and antiaircraft protection for the transports anchored off the beaches . Under attack by kamikaze aircraft . Few mines were encountered , but kamikaze resistance was intense , and , on 7 December , " Saunter " tried unsuccessfully to control fires aboard one kamikaze victim , . During the Mindoro operation , " Saunter " briefly went aground on a reef , damaging a propeller . Straddled by Japanese battery fire . On 13 February " Saunter " and her division began pre - invasion sweeps in Manila Bay in preparation for the landings at Mariveles and Corregidor . While sweeping off Corregidor on the 14th , the minesweepers came within 5 , 000 yards of the island and were repeatedly straddled by Japanese fire before supporting ships silenced the enemy ' s guns . " Saunter " continued sweeping in Manila Bay through 19 February , and her division earned a Navy Unit Commendation for the period from 14 to 18 February . Struck by a mine and nearly sunk . On 26 February , " Saunter " returned to Manila Bay to assist in harbor clearance sweeps . Shortly after noon , she struck a mine which blew a large hole in her bottom . Damage control parties contained the flooding , and the ship was towed back to Subic Bay . A party of officers and men from the USS DYSON DD - 572 went aboard the SAUNTER and helped to save her . Stateside evaluation and decommissioning . She remained there until towed back to the United States , arriving at San Francisco , California , on 15 August . " Saunter " was decommissioned on 27 October 1945 , struck from the Navy list on 13 November 1945 , and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal on 24 April 1946 . Her ultimate fate is not known . Awards . " Saunter " received three battle stars for her World War II service .