World War II Pacific Theatre Operations
Following shakedown training and antisubmarine warfare (ASW) training out of San Pedro and San Diego, California, Staunch was overhauled at Long Beach, California, and then headed for Hawaii at the end of November. She arrived in Pearl Harbor on 10 December, took on supplies and sweep gear, participated in amphibious exercises, and got underway for the Central Pacific on 22 January 1945.
The minesweeper stopped at Eniwetok for fuel and provisions from 3 to 5 February, before continuing on to the Marianas. She conducted ASW patrols for several days and took on fuel and supplies at Tinian; then, on 13 February, sailed with Task Unit (TU) 52.3.18 in the screen of USS Terror. Staunch arrived off Iwo Jima early on the 16th and made a sweep of the shoreline. On the 17th and 18th, she served as an antisubmarine picket and bombarded the shore on the eve of the assault. Staunch spent D-Day assisting in the refueling of the smaller minesweepers. All during her stay at Iwo Jima, she joined other minesweepers in screening Terror during nightly retirements to the transport area.
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