USS Defense

History
United States
NameHMS Amity (BAM-4)
BuilderGeneral Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Alameda, California
Laid down2 October 1942
Launched18 February 1943
Sponsored byMrs. A. Duncanfield
Commissioned10 January 1944
Recommissioned16 February 1952 at Long Beach, California
Decommissioned
  • 31 May 1946
  • 15 April 1955
RenamedUSS Defense (AM-317), 23 January 1943
ReclassifiedMSF-317, 7 February 1955
Strickenc. 1972
HomeportLong Beach, California
Honors &
awards
FateSold to Mexico, 3 January 1973
Mexico
NameARM Manuel Doblado (C73)
NamesakeManuel Doblado
Acquired3 January 1973
Reclassified
  • G05
  • P104, 1993
Fatein active service, as of 2007
General characteristics
Class & typeAuk-class minesweeper
Displacement890 long tons (904 t)
Length221 ft 2 in (67.41 m)
Beam32 ft (9.8 m)
Draft10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 × 2,976 shp (2,219 kW) Baldwin VO8 diesel electric drive engines
  • Westinghouse single reduction gear
  • 2 shafts
Speed18.1 knots (33.5 km/h; 20.8 mph)
Complement105 officers and enlisted
Armament

USS Defense (AM-317) 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.