Soviet minesweeper T-120


T-120 was a minesweeper of the Soviet Navy during World War II and the Cold War. She had originally been built as USS Assail , an, for the United States Navy during World War II, but never saw active service in the U.S. Navy. Upon completion she was transferred to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease as T-120; she was never returned to the United States. T-120 was sunk by in the Kara Sea in September 1944. Because of the Cold War, the U.S. Navy was unaware of this fate and the vessel remained on the American Naval Vessel Register until she was struck on 1 January 1983.

Career

Assail was laid down on 1 November 1942 at Tampa, Florida, by the Tampa Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 27 December 1942; sponsored by Miss M. T. Hicks; and completed on 5 October 1943. She was transferred to the Soviet Union on the day she was completed under the lend-lease program, and she served the Soviet Navy as T-120 until she was torpedoed and sunk 24 September 1944 in the Kara Sea by German submarine.
Never returned, Assail was carried on the American Naval Vessel Register as MSF-147 after 7 February 1955 until struck on 1 January 1983.