USS Sage (AM-111) was an acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of removing naval mines. Sage was laid down on 29 July 1942 by the Winslow Marine Railway and Shipbuilding Company, Winslow, Washington; launched on 21 November 1942; sponsored by Miss Shirley Woodman; and commissioned on 23 August 1943. World War II Pacific operations Following shakedown off the California coast, Sage moved west to Pearl Harbor. Arriving on 20 October, she departed again on the 28th; proceeded to Midway Island, whence she provided escort services to the Ellice and Phoenix Islands; then returned to Hawaii. Through December 1943 and into January 1944, she conducted minesweeping exercises and experiments and was altered to carry a small support landing craft. On 22 January, she embarked a hydrographic party; and, on the 23rd, she sortied with Task Force 51, the Marshall Islands assault force. On the 31st, Sage commenced minesweeping and hydrographic survey operations at Majuro; and, four days later, shifted to Kwajalein. For the next week, she alternated antisubmarine patrols with sonar watch duty at the entrance to the lagoon. On 11 February, she and three other AM's tracked and attacked a possible submarine one mile off Gea, but the depth charges they dropped seemingly inflicted little or no damage. On the 15th, however, she sailed with Task Group 51.11 for Eniwetok; and, the same day, joined the destroyers and in sinking the Japanese submarine RO-40. Two days later, Sage, with , YMS-262, and YMS-383, was detached from the formation. Proceeding to Wide Pass, they commenced sweeping operations at 0617; and, at 0726, entered the lagoon. An hour and one half later, they sighted personnel on board a beached Japanese ship. After shelling the ship, they resumed sweeping operations and added patrol duties which continued until mid-March. Reassigned to task force TF 51, Sage departed Eniwetok and returned to Kwajalein, whence her task group moved to occupy the outer islands of the Marshall group: Ailinglapalap, Namu, and others to the southeast; Bikini Atoll, Rongelap, and Utirik to the north. Stateside overhaul Escort duty followed these operations and took Sage back to Pearl Harbor, then to San Francisco, California. Arriving on 7 May, she underwent overhaul at Alameda, California; resumed escort duty on 11 June; and, by mid-August, had completed several runs between the Hawaiian and Marshall Islands. The following month, she received more up-to-date radar equipment; and, on