USS Champion (AM-314)
.jpg) ARM Mariano Escobedo (left) in Manzanillo
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | HMS Akbar (BAM-1) |
| Builder | General Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Alameda, California |
| Laid down | 6 July 1942 |
| Launched | 12 December 1942 |
| Commissioned | 8 September 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 30 January 1947 |
| Renamed | USS Champion (AM-314), 23 January 1943 |
| Reclassified | MSF-314, 7 February 1955 |
| Honours and awards | 3 battle stars (World War II) |
| Fate | Sold to Mexico, 19 September 1972 |
 Mexico | |
| Name | ARM Mariano Escobedo (C72) |
| Namesake | Mariano Escobedo |
| Acquired | 19 September 1972 |
| Reclassified | |
| Status | in active service, as of 2007[update][1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Auk-class minesweeper |
| Displacement | 890 long tons (904 t) |
| Length | 221 ft 3 in (67.44 m) |
| Beam | 32 ft (9.8 m) |
| Draft | 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) |
| Speed | 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Complement | 100 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
|
The third USS Champion (BAM-1/AM-314/MSF-314) was an Auk-class minesweeper of the United States Navy.
The ship was the first of 32 vessels of the Auk class ordered for transfer to Great Britain under Lend-Lease, and designated British Minesweeper HMS Akbar (BAM-1). Twelve of these ships were retained for service in the U.S. Navy.
Launched on 12 December 1942 by General Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Alameda, California; redesignated USS Champion (AM-314) on 23 January 1943, and commissioned on 8 September 1943.
World War II Pacific operations
Clearing
Iwo Jima operations
Champion arrived off Iwo Jima on 16 February 1945, as the preliminary three-day bombardment of the island began. Except for the period 21 February to 4 March, when she sailed escorting unloaded assault shipping to Saipan, from which she returned with resupply echelons, Champion remained off Iwo Jima until 7 March. After provisioning and fueling at
Damaged by a kamikaze
On 16 April, a kamikaze suicide plane crashed close aboard Champion, spraying debris which slightly damaged her, and wounded four of her men. She returned to Seattle, Washington, 20 July for an overhaul which lasted through the end of the war.
Final Far East operations
In support of Far Eastern occupation activities, Champion sailed from
Decommissioning
Champion was decommissioned and placed in reserve at San Diego, California on 30 January 1947. She was reclassified MSF-314 on 7 February 1955. She was transferred to Mexico on 19 September 1972 as Mariano Escobedo (C72), reclassified G03, and P103 in 1993. As of 2007[update], Mariano Escobedo was active in the Mexican Navy.[1]
Awards
Champion received three
Notes
- ^ OCLC 140283156.
References
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
External links
- Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 AM-314 USS Champion
- Photo gallery of USS 'Champion' (AM-314/MSF-314) at NavSource Naval History
- U-boat.net - minesweeper USS Champion of the Auk class
