USS Chief (AM-315)

Chief in 1952
History
United States
NameHMS Alice (BAM-2)
BuilderGeneral Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Alameda, California
Laid down25 July 1942
Launched5 January 1943
RenamedUSS Chief (AM-315), 23 January 1943
Commissioned9 October 1943
Decommissioned17 March 1947
Recommissioned28 February 1952
ReclassifiedMSF-315, 7 February 1955
Decommissioned15 March 1955
Stricken1 July 1972
Honours &
awards
FateSold to Mexico, February 1973
History
Mexico
NameARM Jesús González Ortega (C83)
NamesakeJesús González Ortega
AcquiredFebruary 1973
ReclassifiedG15
ReclassifiedP114, 1993
Statusin active service, as of 2007
General characteristics
Class & typeAuk-class minesweeper
Displacement890 long tons (904 t)
Length221 ft 3 in (67.44 m)
Beam32 ft (9.8 m)
Draft10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)
Speed18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement100 officers and enlisted
Armament

USS Chief (AM-315) was an Auk-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing, and named after the word "chief," the head or leader of a group.

Originally intended for Great Britain, HMS Alice (BAM-2) was launched 5 January 1943 by General Engineering and Dry Dock Co., Alameda, California; renamed and reclassified USS Chief (AM-315), 23 January 1943; and commissioned 9 October 1943.