Twelve Lapwing class minesweepers and 18 submarine chasers were available for the first routine sweep of the United States minesweepers on 29 April 1919. After the first sweep took two days to clear 221 mines, Strauss requested more ships in the hope of clearing the mine barrage that summer. Twenty Admiralty trawlers with American crews, 16 more Lapwing class minesweepers, and another repair ship were assigned to his command. "Panther" was given responsibility for tending trawlers "William Ashton", "Thomas Blackhorne", "Thomas Buckley", "Richard Bulkeley", "George Burton", "Pat Caharty", "William Caldwell", "George Clarke", "John Clay", "George Cochrane", "John Collins", "William Darnold", "Sam Duffy", "John Dunkin", "John Fitzgerald", "John Graham", "Thomas Graham", "Thomas Henrix", "William Johnson", "Thomas Laundry", and submarine chasers SC-37, 38, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 95, 110, 164, 178, 181, 182, 206, 207, 208, 254, 256, 259, 272, 329, 354 and 356. "Blackhawk" provided tender services for the larger ships operating as six divisions.