USS Catbird

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USS Catbird (AM-68) was the lead ship of the Catbird-class minesweepers used by the United States Navy in World War II. Built in 1938 as MV Bittern by the Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. in Charleston, South Carolina, the ship was acquired by the Navy on 12 August 1940 and commissioned on 27 November 1940.

Catbird operated in New England waters through 31 March 1941, performing tests and exercises. After an overhaul in Brooklyn, New York, she sailed on 5 October for Cristóbal, where she remained on duty in the 15th Naval District until 29 January 1944. Returning to the East Coast, she conducted local operations at Norfolk, Virginia, until 16 April 1944, then sailed to Boston, arriving 19 April. She was reclassified as Unclassified Miscellaneous Auxiliary IX-183 on 15 August 1944 and placed out of commission in service on 17 August 1944. Catbird served out of New York until 23 May 1945, then operated in Cape Cod waters until 3 June under the Naval Mine Testing Facilities. Returning to New York, she was placed out of service and laid up on 7 November 1945, and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal on 24 January 1947.