USS Opponent (AM-269)
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USS ''Opponent'' (AM-269) was an
Admirable-class The ''Admirable'' class was one of the largest and most successful classes of minesweepers ordered by the United States Navy during World War II. Typically, minesweepers detected and removed naval mines before the rest of the fleet arrived, the ...
minesweeper built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was built to clear minefields in offshore waters, and served the Navy in the Atlantic Ocean and then was transferred to the North Pacific Ocean before war’s end. ''Opponent'' was laid down 21 September 1942 by the Gulf Shipbuilding Co.,
Chickasaw, Alabama Chickasaw is a city in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2020 census the population was 6,457, up from 6,106 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Mobile metropolitan area. History Company town In the early 20th century bef ...
, launched 12 June 1943; sponsored by Mrs. H. Key, Jr.; and, commissioned 18 February 1944.


World War II Atlantic operations

After
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, ...
along the Atlantic coast and in the Gulf ''Opponent'' departed
Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Be ...
, 12 April for Casco Bay, Maine. There she conducted antisubmarine exercises until she sailed for
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...
escorting , arriving Norfolk 29 April. Early the next month, ''Opponent's'' commanding officer was ordered to assume command of Mine Squadron 33 as well as to retain command of his ship. For the next year, the little minesweeper alternated between patrol work, type training and weather ship duties.


Transfer to the Pacific Fleet

On 16 March 1945 she sailed for the Pacific. Arriving San Diego, California, on 5 April, ''Opponent'' was assigned to Mine Division 44. She departed San Diego three days later and arrived Pearl Harbor on the 13th. For the remainder of the war, ''Opponent'' escorted convoys between Southeast Asia and Pearl Harbor. She continued this service until early 1946, when she sailed to Orange, Texas.


Post-war decommissioning

''Opponent'' was decommissioned on 27 August 1946. She was reclassified MSF-269 on 7 February 1955. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 April 1960 and was sold to Ships & Power Inc., Miami, Florida, on 3 February 1961.


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Opponent (AM-269) Admirable-class minesweepers Ships built in Chickasaw, Alabama 1943 ships World War II minesweepers of the United States