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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

AM / MSF-317 Defense


Defense served the Navies of the United States and Mexico.

Auk Class Minesweeper: Laid down as HMS Amity (BAM 4) by the General Engineering and Dry Dock Co., Alameda, CA; Launched, 18 February 1943; Commissioned, 10 June 1944 USS Defense (AM-317); Placed out of commission, in reserve, 31 May 1946 at San Diego, CA; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet; Recommissioned, 10 February 1952 at Long Beach, CA; Reclassified Fleet Minesweeper (Steel-hulled) MSF-317, 7 February 1955; Placed out of commission, in reserve, 15 April 1955 at Long Beach, CA; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet; Sold to Mexico and renamed Manuel Doblado (C-73); Struck from the Naval Register, (date unknown). Defense received two battle stars for World War II service and two the Korean War.

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 two diesel engines, two shafts.
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Size Image Description Source
Defense 230k Underway, March 17 1944. Roy Cordell
© National Archives.
Defense 24k - USS Defense (AM-317)
Web Site
Defense 14k - USS Defense (AM-317)
Web Site
Defense 144k c.1952, shortly after recommissioning for
Korean War service.
US Navy Photo NH 96912
Naval Historical Center
Defense 73k 8 October 1952. Laertes (AR-20) at Sasebo, Japan with nine minesweepers and a harbor tug alongside. Ships nested to left of Laertes are (from left):
Impeccable (AM-320);
Gladiator (AM-319);
Shoveler (AM-382);
Defense (AM-317) and
Devastator (AM-318).
Those nested to right are (from left):
Condor (AMS-5);
Kite (AMS-22);
Curlew (AMS-8);
Chatterer (AMS-40),and
Wallacut (YTB-420)
US Navy Photo 80-G-63229.
Now in the collections of the National Archives.
Naval Historical Center

View the Defense (AM / MSF-317)
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
USS Defense (AM-317) and W D Cordell
Naval Minewarfare Association
Association of Minemen
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