USS Portent (AM-106) was an acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing. Portent — a metal-hulled minesweeper — was named after the word "portent", something that foreshadows a coming event. In this case, it was an appropriate name since the Portent struck a mine and was sunk not long after her commissioning. Portent was laid down on 15 November 1941 by the Pennsylvania Shipyards, Inc., Beaumont, Texas, launched on 16 August 1942, sponsored by Mrs. Arthur L. Kline, Jr., and commissioned on 3 April 1943. North Atlantic World War II operations Portent sailed via Algiers, Louisiana, and Key West, Florida, to New York City to join a convoy to Casablanca and various North African ports on 14 May 1943. From May–November, she escorted convoys between New York City and Casablanca, Morocco. Assigned to a convoy entering the Mediterranean, she anchored outside Oran, Algeria on 22 November. Sunk off the Italian coast Deployed to Italy, she arrived at Naples on 19 December. Assigned to the invasion of Anzio, Italy Portent struck a mine while patrolling near the Italian coast and sank at on 22 January 1944. Nearby ships rescued survivors. Awards Portent received one battle star for World War II service. References External links Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 AM-106 USS Portent uboat.net - Minesweeper USS Portent of the Auk class Naval Losses World War II Photo gallery at navsource.org Auk-class minesweepers of the United States Navy Ships built in Port Arthur, Texas 1942 ships World War II minesweepers of the United States World War II shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea Maritime incidents in January 1944 Ships sunk by mines