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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

Buttress (ACM 4)

Buttress call sign:
Nan - Baker - Sugar - King

ex-PCE-878

PCE-878 call sign:
Nan - Zebra - Nan - Nan

PCE-842 Class Patrol Craft Escort/Buttress Class Auxiliary Minelayer: Laid down 11 May 1943 by the Albina Engine and Machine Works, Portland, Oregon; Launched 26 August 1943; Delivered and commissioned USS PCE-878, 13 March 1944; Converted to an Auxiliary Minelayer, ACM-4 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 27 March - 26 April 1944; Named Buttress and reclassified as an Auxiliary Minelayer, ACM-4, 15 June 1944; Decommissioned 24 February 1947 at Bremerton, WA; Struck from the Navy list 5 March 1947; Sold 30 October 1947 to J. W. Rumsey and renamed Pacific Reefer. Fate unknown.

Specifications: Displacement 850 t.; Length 184' 6"; Beam 33'; Draft 9' 5"; Speed 15.7 kts; Complement 102; Armament one 3"/50 dual purpose mount; Propulsion two 900bhp General Motors Electro-Motive 12-567A diesel engines, two shafts.

Size	Image Description	Source
62k	Boardside view of PCE-878 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 27 March 1944. The sternwheeler steam boat Delta King (YHB-6) can be seen on the left in the background. U.S. Navy photo 1973-44	Darryl L. Baker
84k	PCE-878 has just arrived at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 27 Mar 1944. She was in overhaul at the shipyard from 27 March to 26 April 1944. U.S. Navy photo 1974-44	Darryl L. Baker
179k	27 March 1944 Aft plan view of PCE-878 prior to her conversion to USS Buttress (ACM 4) at Mare Island. U.S. Navy photo 1975-44	Darryl L. Baker
181k	Amidships looking forward plan view of PCE-878 prior to her consersion to USS Buttress (ACM 4) at Mare Island. U.S. Navy photo 1976-44	Darryl L. Baker
174k	Forward plan view of PCE-878 during her conversion to USS Buttress (ACM 4) at Mare Island on 25 April 1944. Freight Lighter YF-508 can be seen in the background. U.S. Navy photo 2532-44	Darryl L. Baker
232k	Aft plan view of PCE-878 during her conversion to USS Buttress (ACM 4) at Mare Island on 25 April 1944. Housing barge YHB-21 (ex-Tamalpais - Steam side wheeler) can be seen in the background. U.S. Navy photo 2533-44	Darryl L. Baker

View the Buttress (ACM 4)
DANFS history entry located on the Naval Historical Center web site

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Naval Minewarfare Association
Association of Minemen

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