USS Roselle (AM-379)

USS "Roselle" (AM-379) was an "Auk"-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.

Roselle was the second U.S. Navy warship to be named “Roselle.” The first ship of that name was the "Roselle" (SP-350), a ship that served both as a tug and as minesweeper. "Roselle" was laid down 24 February 1944, by the Gulf Ship Building Corp., Chickasaw, Alabama; launched 29 August 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Louis E. Griffith; and commissioned 6 February 1945, Lt. Comdr. H. T. Loehr, Jr., in command.

Pacific Ocean operations

Following shakedown at Little Creek, Virginia, she replaced "Pilot" as training vessel there 24 April 1945. Completing 6 months of minesweeper training operations in the Atlantic Ocean, she transited the Panama Canal and joined the U.S. Pacific Fleet 23 October 1945. After 3-week periods at San Pedro, California, and at Pearl Harbor, she proceeded to Japan, via Eniwetok and Saipan, arriving at Sasebo 14 January 1946. She operated in Japanese waters on minesweeping operations through April, then returned to the United States via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor, arriving San Diego 20 May to report to the 19th Fleet for inactivation.

Decommissioning

"Roselle" was placed out of commission in reserve in San Diego, California, on 20 June 1946. Reclassified MSF-379 on 7 February 1955, she remained out of commission in reserve at San Diego until February 1973 when she was sold to the government of Mexico. Named "Melchior Ocampo" (G-10), and later "Manuel Gutierrez Zamora" (PO-109), the minesweeper remained in Mexican service in 2005.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* Auk class minesweeper
* World War II
* Minesweeper (ship)
* Minesweeping

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/AM/AM-379_Roselle.html Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 AM-379 USS Roselle]
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5390.html USS Roselle (AM 379)]