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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

AM / MSF-315 Chief


Chief served the Navies of the United States and Mexico.

Auk Class Minesweeper: Laid down as HMS Alice (BAM 2) by the General Engineering and Dry Dock Co., Alameda, CA; Launched, 5 January 1943; Commissioned USS Chief (AM-315), 9 October 1943; Placed out of commission, in reserve, 17 March 1947 at San Francisco, CA; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Pedro Group; Recommissioned, 28 February 1952 at Long Beach, CA; Placed out of commission, in reserve, 1 November 1954; Redesignated a Fleet Minesweeper (Steel-hulled) MSF-315, 7 February 1955; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet; Sold to Mexico, (date unknown) and renamed Jesus Gonzalez Ortega (C-83), Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1972. Fate unknown. Chief received five battle stars for World War II service and two for Korean war service.

Specifications: Displacement 890 t.; Length 221' 3"; Beam 32'; Draft 10' 9"; Speed 18 kts; Complement 105; Armament one single 3"/50 gun mount, two twin 40mm gun mounts, two single 20mm gun mounts, two dcpth charge tracks, five depth charge projectiles; Propulsion, diesel.
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Size Image Description Source
Chief 140k Chief (AM-315) seen shortly after her 1952 recommissioning.
Chief was originally built for Great Britain and was named
HMS Alice (BAM-2).
US Navy Photo NH 96996
-
AMS-5 Condor/LST-735 Dukes County 88k Dukes County (LST 735) serving as mother ship for seven
minesweepers, probably in a Japanese port, c. 1952-54.
Ships nested alongside are:
Gull (AMS-16);
Firecrest (AMS-10);
Condor (AMS-5);
Merganser (AMS-26);
Osprey (AMS-28);
Competent (AM-316)
; and
Chief (AM-315).
US Navy Photo NH 68589
Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute, James C. Fahey Collection.
Naval Historical Center

View the Chief (AM / MSF-315)
DANFS History entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site. The main archive for the DANFS Online Project.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Official Navy Web Site for USS Chief (MCM-14)
Naval Minewarfare Association
Association of Minemen

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