The USS Finch (AM-9) was a Lapwing-class minesweeper that served in the United States Navy during World War I. Commissioned in 1918, it was primarily engaged in minesweeping duties off the East Coast of the United States and in the Caribbean. The ship was later reclassified as a coastal minesweeper and given the hull number AMc-14. After the war, the USS Finch was decommissioned in 1919 and placed in reserve until being struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1936. The ship was subsequently sold to a private owner and served in various civilian capacities until being scrapped in 1940. Despite its relatively short service life in the Navy, the USS Finch played a role in the vital task of clearing mines to ensure safe passage for Allied ships during the war. Its history reflects the important role that minesweepers and coastal defense vessels played in naval operations during the early 20th century.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.