USS ''Harlequin'' (AM-365) was an built for the

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during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. She served in the Atlantic during World War II. She was decommissioned in May 1946 and placed in reserve. While she remained in reserve, ''Harlequin'' was reclassified as MSF-365 in February 1955 but never reactivated. In October 1962, she was sold to the Mexican Navy and renamed ARM ''DM-20''. From 1976–1978 she was converted to an oceanographic research vessel and renamed ARM ''Oceanográfico'' (H02) around the same time. In 1993 she was renamed ARM ''General Pedro María Anaya'' (A08). In the late 1990s, she was again renamed, this time to ARM ''Aldabaran'' (BE02), as a school ship. , ''Aldebaran'' remained in active service with the Mexican Navy.

U.S. Navy career

''Harlequin'' was launched 3 June 1944 by Willamette Iron and Steel Works,

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; sponsored by Mrs. Mary M. Doig, whose husband and son were reported missing in action and who also had another son, a brother, and nine nephews in the Navy. She commissioned 28 September 1945. Reporting to

San Pedro, California San Pedro ( ; Spanish: " St. Peter") is a neighborhood within the City of Los Angeles, California. Formerly a separate city, it consolidated with Los Angeles in 1909. The Port of Los Angeles, a major international seaport, is partially located wi ...

, for

shakedown Shakedown may refer to: * Shakedown (continuum mechanics), a type of plastic deformation * Shakedown (testing) or a shakedown cruise, a period of testing undergone by a ship, airplane or other craft before being declared operational * Extortion, ...

19 October, ''Harlequin'' remained there until 29 November, when she sailed south, reaching

New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Merriam-Webster. ; french: La Nouvelle-Orléans , es, Nuev ...

, 15 December. ''Harlequin'' sailed to

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, 2 April 1946 and decommissioned there 27 May. While she remained in reserve, ''Harlequin'' was reclassified MSF-365 on 7 February 1955. ''Harlequin'' was struck from the

Navy List A Navy Directory, formerly the Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval author ...

on 1 May 1962, and later, on 2 October 1962, sold to Mexico.

Mexican Navy career

The former ''Harlequin'' was acquired by the Mexican Navy in October 1962 and renamed ARM ''DM-20''. From 1976–1978 she was disarmed and converted to an oceanographic research vessel; she was renamed ARM ''Oceanográfico'' (H02) around this same time. In 1993, she was renamed ARM ''General Pedro María Anaya'' (A08). Some time after April 1999, she was rearmed and converted to a school ship ( es, barque escuela) and renamed ARM ''Aldabaran'' (BE02). , ''Aldebaran'' remained in active service with the Mexican Navy. The vessel was later sunk to create an artificial reef. This reef is a popular dive spot for tourists.

References

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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - Harlequin (MSF 365) - ex-AM-365
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harlequin (Am-365) Admirable-class minesweepers Ships built in Portland, Oregon 1944 ships World War II minesweepers of the United States Admirable-class minesweepers of the Mexican Navy Naval ships of Mexico