Atlantic Ocean Operations
Upon completion, Swift sailed to New York City to await the formation of a convoy. The convoy was formed and sailed, with Swift as escort, on 25 March for England. It arrived at Falmouth, England on 19 April, and Swift proceeded to Plymouth, England, where she reported to Naval Forces, Europe, for duty. She operated out of Plymouth and Torquay, England, until the end of May.
As a unit of Mine Division (MinDiv) 18, Swift sailed from Torquay, on 5 June for Normandy, France, where she began sweeping mines off the Utah Beachhead. She swept mines from dawn to dusk and acted as "E-boat" patrol at night. On D + l (7 June) Tide (AM-125) was mined and sunk while being towed by Swift. Swift remained there until 17 June when she returned to Plymouth, England. Seven days later, she returned to France to aid in sweeping a lane for battleships so they could bombard Cherbourg and returned to England.
Swift was next routed to Algeria and sailed from Plymouth on 1 August. She arrived at Oran on 6 August and was assigned to the invasion fleet for the assault on southern France, "Operation Dragoon". Swift sortied with the fleet on 10 August and was off the landing beaches in the early morning of D-Day, 15 August. She helped clear the transport area and swept lanes for landing craft. After the troops were ashore, the minesweeper remained on station, sweeping by day and performing antisubmarine and "E-boat" patrol by night. Swift escorted a convoy to Naples, Italy, on 16 October and returned to Golfe de Juan, France. She made daily sweeps up the French Riviera, past the German frontier, to the vicinity of San Remo. The minesweeper returned to Oran on 21 December and joined a convoy bound for the United States which sailed on 28 December 1944.
Swift arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, in mid-January 1945 and entered the navy yard there for an overhaul in preparation for duty in the Pacific. The work was completed on 5 March and, after refresher training, she departed for Miami, Florida, with Sway (AM-120) and Symbol (AM-123). The minesweepers arrived there on 30 March and air-search radar was installed on Swift.
Read more about this topic: USS Swift (AM-122)
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