Specifications:

Displacement 945 t.(fl)

Length 184' 6".

Beam 33'.

Draft 9' 9".

Speed 14.8 kts.

Complement 104.

Armament: One 3"/50 cal. dual purpose mount and one twin 40mm gun mount, six single 20mm gun mounts, one depth charge thrower (hedgehogs), four depth charge projectiles (K-guns), two depth charge tracks.

Propulsion: Two 1,710shp Cooper Bessemer GSB-8 diesel engines, National Supply Co. single reduction gear, two shafts.

Lance (AM-257) was as laid down 26 October 1942 by American Shipbuilding Co., Cleveland, Ohio; launched 10 April 1943; sponsored by Ens. Josephine D. Conningham, W-V (S) USNR; commissioned 4 November 1943, Lt. R. R. Forrester, Jr., in command.

After shakedown along the east coast, Lance arrived Trinidad, British West Indies 17 January 1944 for patrol and escort duty. From January 1944 until March 1945, Lance operated as an escort for convoys, making nine regular runs from Recife, Brazil, to Trinidad. The minesweeper also engaged in ASW training with aircraft operations designed to improve the defensive capability of the Navy.

DANFS    DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL FIGHTING SHIPS