USS Steady (AM-118) - Italian Area Operations

Italian Area Operations

Steady escorted a convoy to Italy in early January and arrived at Naples on the 7th. She stood out of that port on the 21st with a convoy assigned to Operation Shingle, the landing of American and British forces behind German lines in the Anzio-Nettuno area of Italy. Steady arrived in the assault area on the morning of the 22d (D-Day) to begin minesweeping and patrolling to protect Allied ships from German submarines and "E" boats. She continued this duty until the 30th when she sailed for Naples as a convoy escort. From 31 January to 13 August, the minesweeper shuttled between North Africa, Malta, Italy, and Corsica with convoys. She also operated off Anzio again in April and June and off Salerno in July and August.

Steady sailed from Corsica, on 14 August, with a convoy of LCI's destined to participate in the invasion of southern France. She screened the transports and cargo ships on their way to St. Raphael. After the initial assault, Steady then swept mines and patrolled off southern France until 27 September when she sailed for Corsica. She escorted convoys from Corsica and North Africa to France until 24 November when she sailed for the United States.