The Auk class were a class of 93 minesweepers serving with the United States Navy and the Royal Navy during World War II.

Design and development Prior to the United States entering World War II, they had produced two ships of the for testing. From these two examples it was decided that the use of diesel-electric engines to power the ship and the minesweeping equipment, rather than separate geared diesel engines to propel the ship and diesel generators to operate the minesweeping equipment, would work better. The Royal Navy placed an order for 32 of these minesweepers from the United States, BAM-1 – BAM-32. Because of the additional equipment, the displacement was raised from on the Ravens, to on what would come to be known as the Auk class in the USN, and the Catherine class in the RN.

The Auk class displaced 890 long tons, with a length of , a beam of , and a draft of . They had a maximum speed of . The Auks armament varied. All were equipped with a gun on the bow, but many had their aft 3-inch gun removed or replaced by two Bofors guns. Originally designed with four Oerlikon cannon, some ships mounted as many as eight.

Five manufacturers provided the diesel-electric engines used in the class. These included the Cleveland Diesel Engine Division of General Motors, Cooper Bessemer, Baldwin Locomotive Works, the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) and Busch-Sulzer. Twenty of the original 32 ships ordered by the Royal Navy were delivered, with an additional two coming from the USN program. They were given "J" pennant number prefixes. Of these twenty-two, three were sunk in action and 19 were returned to the US after the war. Eleven minesweepers of the Auk class were lost in the war, six to direct enemy action including , torpedoed by .

At least two vessels were in service in February 2026, in the Mexican Navy, Mariano Matomoros (ex-USS Sage) and Valentine Gómez Farias (ex-USS Starling).

Construction The ships were constructed in 11 shipyards, by 10 companies, in 9 states.

American Ship Building Company, Lorain, Ohio American Ship Building Company, Cleveland, Ohio Associated Shipbuilders, Puget Sound, Washington Defoe Shipbuilding Company, Bay City, Michigan General Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Alameda, California Gulf Shipbuilding, Madisonville, Louisiana John H. Mathis & Company, Camden, New Jersey Norfolk Navy Yard, Norfolk, Virginia Pennsylvania Shipyards, Inc., Beaumont, Texas Savannah Machine & Foundry, Savannah, Georgia Winslow Marine Railway and Shipbuilding Company, Puget Sound, Washington

List of ships

Royal Navy Catherine-class minesweepers Ship namePennant numberTransfer dateBuilderShip powerNotes ex-BAM-9 J12 7 September 1943 Associated Shipbuilders, Puget Sound, Washington 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Returned to US, in 1946, sold to Turkey, in January 1947, and renamed Erdemli, stricken 1963 ex-BAM-10 J16 7 September 1943 Associated Shipbuilders, Puget Sound, Washington 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Sunk, 6 July 1944, by German Neger human torpedo ex-BAM-12 J28 22 October 1943 Associated Shipbuilders, Puget Sound, Washington 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Damaged by mine, 21 July 1944, returned to US custody 10 December 1946, sold in 1948, and renamed Morning Star, scrapped 1960 ex-BAM-13 J340 13 November 1943 Associated Shipbuilders, Puget Sound, Washington 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Returned to US, 1946, sold to Turkey, 1947, renamed Edremit, stricken 1973 ex-BAM-14 J341 22 November 1943 Associated Shipbuilders, Puget Sound, Washington 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Returned to US, 15 December 1946, sold to Greece 1947, sold to P. Kondyliotis of Piraeus, in July 1953, and renamed Panagyros, later renamed Diamanto, in August 1964, and Sophia Saranti in October 1969, sold to Ferlosa Maritime under Panamanian registry ex-BAM-15 J345 7 December 1943 Associated Shipbuilders, Puget Sound, Washington 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Returned to US, 20 January 1947, scrapped 1947 ex-BAM-16 ex- J402 22 December 1943 Associated Shipbuilders, Puget Sound, Washington 2 × Baldwin VO8, Westinghouse single reduction gear Returned to US, 30 June 1947, sold to Turkey, 3 November 1947, renamed Çesme, stricken 1974 ex-BAM-25 J403 24 March 1944 Associated Shipbuilders, Puget Sound, Washington 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Returned to US, 13 December 1946, scrapped 1947 ex-BAM-26 J404 14 April 1944 Associated Shipbuilders, Puget Sound, Washington 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Returned to US, December 1946, sold to Greece 1947, and renamed Aida, converted to a cargo ship in 1952, sold in 1959, and renamed Lasithi, scrapped in 1967, at Messina ex-BAM-27 J405 28 April 1944 Associated Shipbuilders, Puget Sound, Washington 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Returned to US, 13 November 1946, scrapped 1947 ex-BAM-28 J406 18 May 1944 Associated Shipbuilders, Puget Sound, Washington 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Returned to US, January 1947, sold to Turkey, 1947, renamed Çandarli, became survey ship in 1960s, stricken 1986 ex-BAM-17 J342 28 July 1943 Savannah Machine & Foundry, Savannah, Georgia 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Returned to US, December 1946 ex-BAM-18 J346 28 August 1943 Savannah Machine & Foundry, Savannah, Georgia 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Returned to US, December 1946, sold to Greece, registered as merchant ship by S. Sofianos of Piraeus, in 1953, renamed Gorgona, scrapped September 1953, at Perama ex-BAM-19 J352 22 September 1943 Savannah Machine & Foundry, Savannah, Georgia 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Returned to US custody at England, in 1946, sold to Turkey, 1947, renamed Edincik, stricken 1974 ex-BAM-29 ex-Garnet J407 12 August 1944 Associated Shipbuilders, Puget Sound, Washington 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Returned to US custody at England, 24 December 1946, sold to Foustinos Brothers. 1947, rebuilt as inter-island ferry and renamed Pantelis, Laid up 1968, capsized and sank at moorings at Ambelakia, Salamis Island, 6 December 1971, later broken up in situ ex-BAM-20 J400 25 October 1943 Savannah Machine & Foundry, Savannah, Georgia 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Sunk, 6 July 1944, by German Neger human torpedo ex-BAM-11 ex-Celerity J23 30 August 1943 Associated Shipbuilders, Puget Sound, Washington 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Returned to US, 1946, sold to Turkey, 1947, renamed Ereğli ex-BAM-21 J401 24 November 1943 Savannah Machine & Foundry, Savannah, Georgia 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Sunk, 8 July 1944, by German Biber midget submarine ex-BAM-31 J375 29 September 1943 Gulf Shipbuilding, Madisonville, Louisiana 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Returned to US, 24 December 1946, sold to Turkey, 1947, renamed Eregli, stricken 1973 ex- J335 18 May 1943 Gulf Shipbuilding, Madisonville, Louisiana 2 × Electro-Motive Division 12-278, Farrel Birmingham single reduction gear Returned to US, 10 December 1946, sold, 23 April 1947, renamed Evening Star, renamed Pride of the West, broken up in Germany, July 1956 ex-BAM-32 J374 26 October 1943 Gulf Shipbuilding, Chickasaw, Alabama 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8, National Supply Company single reduction gear Returned to US, January 1947, sold to Turkey, 1947, renamed Çarsamba, stricken 1985 ex- J339 7 June 1943 Gulf Shipbuilding, Chickasaw, Alabama 2 × Electro-Motive Division 12-278, Farrel Birmingham single reduction gear Returned to US, January 1947, sold to Turkey, 1947, renamed Çardak, stricken 1974

US Navy Auk-class minesweepers Ship nameHull numberBuilderShip powerNotes ex-HMS Buffalo BAM-8 AM-340 General Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Alameda, California 2 × Baldwin VO8, Westinghouse single reduction gear Decommissioned, December 1946, stricken, 1 July 1972, sold to the Mexican Navy on 19 September 1972, renamed Juan N. Álvarez AM-57 Norfolk Navy Yard, Norfolk, Virginia 2 × ALCO 539, Westinghouse single reduction gear Decommissioned, 15 July 1946, stricken, 1 August 1956 AM-58 Defoe Shipbuilding Company, Bay City, Michigan 2 × ALCO 539, Westinghouse single reduction gear Decommissioned, 25 January 1954, stricken, 1 July 1972, sold, 1 December 1973, renamed Anaconda ex-HMS Akbar BAM-1 AM-314 General Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Alameda, California 2 × Baldwin VO8, Westinghouse single reduction gear Decommissioned, 30 January 1947, stricken 1 July 1972, transferred to the Mexican Navy, 19 September 1972, renamed Mariano Escobar, still in active service AM-59 Defoe Shipbuilding Company, Bay City, Michigan 2 × ALCO 539, Westinghouse single reduction gear Decommissioned, 15 May 1946, transferred to the National Navy of Uruguay, 18 August 1966, renamed Comandante Pedro Campbell, converted for Antarctic expeditions, stricken 12 December 2003, used as training hulk ex-HMS Alice BAM-2 AM-315 General Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Alameda, California 2 × Baldwin VO8, Westinghouse single reduction gear Grounded, 1 February 1944, decommissioned, 1 November 1954, stricken, 1 July 1972, sold to the Mexican Navy, 16 February 1973, renamed Jesus Gonzalez Ortega ex-HMS Amelia BAM-3 AM-316 General Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Alameda, California 2 × Baldwin VO8, Westinghouse single reduction gear Decommissioned, 15 April 1955, sold to the Mexican Navy, 20 September 1972, renamed Ponciano Arriaga ex-HMS Amity BAM-4 AM-317 General Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Alameda, California 2 × Baldwin VO8, Westinghouse single reduction gear Decommissioned, 15 April 1955, stricken, 1 July 1972, sold to the Mexican Navy, 3 January 1973, renamed Manuel Doblado ex-HMS Augusta BAM-5 AM-318 General Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Alameda, California 2 × Baldwin VO8, Westinghouse single reduction gear Decommissioned, 15 April 1955, sold to the Mexican Navy, 1973, renamed Sabastian Lerdo de Tejada ex-HMS Sepoy BAM-30 AM-341 Gulf Shipbuilding, Madisonville, Louisiana 2 × Electro-Motive Division 12-278, Farrel Birmingham single reduction gear Decommissioned, 31 October 1956, transferred to the South Korean Navy, December 1967, renamed Koje ex-HMS Blaze BAM-6 AM-319 General Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Alameda, California 2 × Baldwin VO8, Westinghouse single reduction gear Decommissioned, 15 March 1959, stricken, 1 July 1972, sold to the Mexican Navy, 19 September 1972, renamed Santos Degollado, Sunk as a dive wreck, 3 March 2022 AM-100 General Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Alameda, California 2 × Busch-Sulzer 539, Westinghouse single reduction gear Decommissioned, 27 January 1954, stricken, 1 March 1967 AM-101 General Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Alameda, California 2 × Busch-Sulzer 539, Westinghouse single reduction gear Decommissioned, 15 April 1955, stricken, 1 July 1972, sold to the Mexican Navy, 1 February 1973, renamed Mariano Matamoros ex-HMS Brutus BAM-7 AM-320 General Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Alameda, California 2 × Baldwin VO8, Westinghouse single reduction gear Decommissioned, 14 October 1955, stricken, 1 July 1972, sold for scrap, 1 April 1974 AM-371 Savannah Machine & Foundry, Savannah, Georgia 2 × Electro-Motive Division 12-278, Westinghouse single reduction gear