USS Toucan

History
United States
NameUSS Toucan (AM-387)
Namesaketoucan
BuilderAmerican Ship Building Company, Cleveland, Ohio
Laid down16 February 1944
Launched15 September 1944
Commissioned25 November 1944
Decommissioned1 July 1946
Recommissioned27 October 1950
ReclassifiedMSF-387, 7 February 1955
Decommissioned1 May 1957
Honors and
awards
FateTransferred to Republic of China, 22 December 1964
History
Republic of China
NameROCS Chien Men (PCE-45) 劍門
Acquired22 December 1964
FateSunk at the Battle of Dongshan on 6 August 1965
General characteristics
Class and typeAuk-class minesweeper
Displacement890 long tons (904 t)
Length221 ft 3 in (67.44 m)
Beam32 ft (9.8 m)
Draft10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)
Speed18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement100 officers and enlisted
Armament

USS Toucan (AM-387) was an Auk-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing. She was the only U.S. Navy ship named for the toucan, a brightly colored and easily tamed bird of the American tropics, characterized by its large but thin beak.

Toucan was laid down on 16 February 1944 at Cleveland, Ohio, by the American Ship Building Company; launched on 15 September 1944; sponsored by Miss Rose B. Jackiewicz; and commissioned on 25 November 1944.