USS Oracle ( AM - 103 ) USS " Oracle " ( AM - 103 ) was an built for the United States Navy during World War II . She was commissioned in May 1943 and decommissioned in May 1946 . She was placed in reserve and remained there until struck from the Naval Vessel Register in December 1966 . She was sunk as a target in 1967 . Career . " Oracle " was laid down by the General Engineering & Dry Dock Company of Alameda , California , 7 May 1942 ; launched 30 September 1942 ; sponsored by Mrs . Sadie L . Jones ; and commissioned 14 May 1943 , Lt . Comdr . William H . Putnam , USNR , in command . Getting underway from Alameda , California on 27 June , " Oracle " steamed to Adak , Alaska , to spend the next five months in towing , escort , patrol , salvage , and survey operations in the Aleutians area . She furnished minesweeping and antisubmarine screening support for the occupation of Kiska 15 to 22 August . Departing Adak 1 December , " Oracle " arrived at Pearl Harbor the 10th . On her first operation in the central Pacific Ocean , the invasion of Majuro Atoll , Marshalls , 31 January to 3 February 1944 , she swept landing channels and took soundings for chart preparation . Oracle then proceeded to Kwajalein , arriving the next day for antisubmarine patrol until the 14th . On 15 February " Oracle " got underway in convoy for Eniwetok , arriving two days later to mark the channel for the landing craft assault that same day . She again patrolled against enemy submarines until she departed Eniwetok on 12 April for Pearl Harbor . Following training from 20 April until 29 May for the invasion of Saipan , " Oracle " returned to the Marshalls to join a task group off Eniwetok on 14 June . The minesweeper arrived off Tanapag Harbor , Saipan , the next day for minesweeping and screening before moving on to Magicienne Bay . On 10 July " Oracle " rescued two Japanese survivors on a makeshift raft off Saipan . By the 24th the ship was off Tinian for the landings and mop - up operations to 4 August . She spent most of September patrolling off the southern Marianas before escorting the tanker to Guam , arriving the 20th . From 1 to 10 October " Oracle " was on emergency chemical smoke watch off Apra Harbor , Guam , to protect shipping from Japanese air attack . She continued service off Guam and in operations to Ulithi until proceeding to Okinawa . Patrolling there on 6 May she assisted in shooting down three Japanese planes . On 14 May " Oracle " departed Guam for the U . S . West Coast , via Pearl Harbor , arriving Seattle , Washington , 6 July . Fighting stopped during overhaul . " Oracle " got underway for Pearl Harbor on 29 August , arriving 5 September . Reporting to Sasebo , Japan , 5 November , she participated in the mine clearance of the Formosa Straits area , until 23 December when she reached Shanghai , China . On 3 January 1946 " Oracle " departed Shanghai for Pearl Harbor , via Sasebo , arriving the 31st . The minesweeper " Oracle " steamed for home in the spring of 1946 , arriving San Diego , California , to be decommissioned on 29 May and enter the Pacific Reserve Fleet there . On 7 February 1955 " Oracle " was redesignated MSF – 103 . On 1 December 1966 the " Oracle " was struck from the Naval Vessel Register . The fleet minesweeper was stripped and used as a target for the Pacific Fleet in the winter of 1967 .