USS Pintail (AMc-17) was a coastal minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing. Pintail, built in 1937 as Three Star by the Kruse and Banks Shipbuilding Co., North Bend, Oregon, was purchased by the Maritime Commission from the MacPhister Van Camp Canning Co., San Pedro, California, and transferred to the Navy 19 November 1940; renamed Pintail (AMc–17), 7 December 1940; converted by the Western Boat Building Co., Tacoma, Washington; and placed in service 18 February 1941.