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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

USS Champion (MSF 314)
ex-USS Champion (AM 314)

Call sign:
November - Charlie - Charlie - Tango

ex-HMS Akbar (BAM 1)

Champion served the Navies of the United States and Mexico.

Auk Class Minesweeper:

Laid down 6 July 1942 as HMS Akbar (BAM 1) by the General Engineering and Dry Dock Co., Alameda, CA

Launched 12 December 1942

Renamed and reclassified Champion (AM 314), 23 January 1943

Commissioned USS Champion (AM 314), 8 September 1943

Naval Vessel Register of 1 January 1949 lists plan for decommissioning and placing in reserve as December 1946

Decommissioned and placed in reserve 30 January 1947 at San Diego, CA

Reclassified as a Fleet Minesweeper (Steel Hull), MSF-314, 7 February 1955

Struck from the Navy Register 1 July 1972

Transferred to Mexico 19 September 1972 and renamed ARM Mariano Escobar (P 103)

Currently in service at Manzanillo, Mexico.

Specifications:

Displacement 890 t.

Length 221' 2"

Beam 32' 2"

Draft 10' 9"

Speed 18.1 kts.

Complement 105

Armament: One 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount, two twin 40mm gun mounts, two 20mm gun mounts, two depth charge tracks and five depth charge projectors

Propulsion: Two 1, 498shp Baldwin VO8 diesel electric drive engines, Westinghouse single reduction gear, two shafts.

Click on thumbnail for full size image	Size	Image Description	Source
USS Champion (AM 314)
	113k	13 October 1943	Robert Hurst
	192k	Taken shortly after the Okinawa campaign. The ships Doctor, Lt[jg] Tullis is standing on the ships life line next to the bridge.	Mike Willmann
	58k	c. August 1945	Mike Willmann
ARM Mariano Escobar (P 103)
	61k	Mexican Navy photo	Joe Radigan
	67k	c. March 2010	Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
	330k	c. January 2011 Manzanillo, Mexico Moored alongside ARM Manuel Doblado (P 104), ex-Defense (MSF 317)	Gábor Fekete
	441k
	272k