Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Defense (AM-317, later MSF-317), 1944-1973

USS Defense, an 890-ton Auk class minesweeper, was built at Alameda, California, and commissioned in January 1944. She served in the Pacific during World War II, including participation in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns. On 6 April 1945, despite having been hit by two Kamikazes off Okinawa, she assisted two badly damaged destroyers, towing one to the Kerama Retto anchorage. Following repairs Defense took part in the occupation of Japan. She returned to the United States in April 1946 and decommissioned a month later.

Defense recommissioned in February 1952, in response to the Korean War crisis. She deployed to the Far East for two tours of duty in 1952-53 and 1953-54, taking part in combat operations off Korea during the first deployment. Reclassified MSF-317 in February 1955, she decommissioned in April of that year. After nearly two decades in the Reserve Fleet, USS Defense was transferred to Mexico in 1973. She has since served in that nation's navy under the name Manuel Doblado.

This page features views of USS Defense (AM-317).

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 96912

USS Defense
(AM-317)

Photographed circa 1952, shortly after she was recommissioned for Korean War service.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 138KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-632291

USS Laertes (AR-20)


At Sasebo, Japan, with nine minesweepers and a harbor tug alongside. Original photo is dated 8 October 1952.
Ships nested to left of Laertes are (from left):
USS Impeccable (AM-320);
USS Gladiator (AM-319);
USS Shoveler (AM-382);
USS Defense (AM-317) and
USS Devastator (AM-318).
Those nested to right are (from left):
USS Condor (AMS-5);
USS Kite (AMS-22);
USS Curlew (AMS-8);
USS Chatterer (AMS-40) and
Wallacut (YTB-420).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold at least one other view of USS Defense (AM-317), taken during the 1950s. The following list features this image.

The image listed below is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".



  • Photo #: USN 1045785
    USS Defense (AM-317) underway during the early 1950s.
    Starboard side aerial view. This photograph was received in December 1959.


    Reproductions of this image should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The image listed in this box is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    6 September 1999