USS Champion (AM-314)

The third USS "Champion" (BAM-1/AM-314/MSF-314) was an "Auk"-class minesweeper. "Champion" was launched 12 December 1942 by General Engineering and Dry Dock Co., Alameda, California; and commissioned 8 September 1943, Lieutenant Commander J. H. Howard, Jr., USNR, in command.

World War II Pacific operations

Clearing San Diego, California, 7 December 1943, "Champion" arrived at Pearl Harbor 13 December. Between 8 January and 4 March 1944, she was assigned the task of guarding vital shipping between Pearl Harbor and San Francisco, California. More direct support to frontline operations came from 18 March to 10 April, when she escorted two resupply convoys to Tarawa, after which she screened a convoy to Kwajalein from 19 April to 7 May in support of the Marshalls operation. After a short overhaul, she sailed to Saipan for minesweeping operations and local escort duty in late June, then returned to Pearl Harbor for more extensive overhaul. From 13 September to 17 November, she guarded convoys from Pearl Harbor to Eniwetok and Saipan, before training for the Iwo Jima Operation.

Iwo Jima operations

"Champion" arrived off Iwo Jima on 16 February 1945, as the preliminary 3-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 Ulithi, she sailed for Kerama Retto and Okinawa. In these dangerous waters she conducted minesweeping operations, and served in screens, from 24 March to 19 June, aside from a convoy escort voyage to Saipan from 25 April to 19 May.

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 San Pedro, California on 4 December 1945, called at Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok, and arrived at Sasebo, Japan on 1 February 1946. From this port she swept mines and patrolled in Tsushima Straits until 6 December, when she cleared for the U.S. West Coast.

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 Escobar" (P 103) and later reclassified G-03. Her final fate is unknown. She still may be active in The Mexican Navy

Awards

"Champion" received three battle stars for service in World War II.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships

External links

* [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/AM/AM-314_Champion.html Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 AM-314 USS Champion]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/02314.htm NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - Champion (MSF 314) - ex-AM-314 - ex-HMS Akbar (BAM 1)]
* [http://nmsoa.org/tsd.htm The Silent Defenders]
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5244.html uboat.net - Allied Warships - Minesweeper USS Champion of the Auk class]
* [http://www.america-at-war.net/wwii1945.html America at War]