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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

AM / MSF-316 Competent


Competent served the Navies of the United States and Mexico.

Auk Class Minesweeper: Laid down as HMS Amelia (BAM 3) by the General Engineering and Dry Dock Co., Alameda, CA; Launched, 30 January 1943; Commissioned USS Competent (AM-316), 10 November 1943; Placed out of commission, in reserve, 30 January 1947; Recommissioned 29 February 1952 at Long Beach, CA; Decommissioned, 15 April 1955; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet; Reclassified a Fleet Minesweeper (Steel-hulled) MSF-316, 7 February 1955; Sold to Mexico, September 1972 and renamed Ponciano Arriaga. Fate unknown. Competent earned five battle stars for World War II service and two for 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
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 Competent (AM / MSF-316)
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
Naval Minewarfare Association
Association of Minemen
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