Commander Mine Squadron SEVEN
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
COMINRON SEVEN, (full: Commander, Mine Squadron SEVEN) is the designation for a U.S. Navy minelaying and retrieval command and unit. COMINRON SEVEN was assigned to the United States Pacific Fleet from some time before 1943 (exact date is unknown) until the unit's decommissioning in 1968. The word Commander in the unit's nomenclature refers both the entire unit, the headquarters section, and to the actual commanding officer.
Contents |
[edit] Mission and responsibilities
[edit] Mission of Commander Mine Squadron SEVEN:
The mission and responsibilities of COMINRON SEVEN's command were:
Exercise operational control; coordinate shakedown and refresher training; coordinate activation and inactivation of ships assigned to Mine Squadron SEVEN; conduct type training and support inter-type training for ships of Mine Squadron SEVEN; provide ships and services to other commands; conduct trials and tests of Mine Squadron SEVEN ships, mines, and equipment; lay, actuate and recover mines; conduct training of personnel assigned; carry out special assignments as directed; emphasize maintenance and repair of Mine Squadron SEVEN ships and equipment in order to insure a high state of combat readiness; conduct training in defense against atomic (including radiological), bacteriological and chemical warfare and provide forces for search and rescue as required.
[edit] Mission of other ships attached to Mine Squadron SEVEN
The COVE (MSI 1) and CAPE (MSI 2) were inshore minesweepers. Their mission was to sweep sea mines. They were capable of sweeping magnetic, acoustic, combination magnetic-acoustic and contact sea mines in water as shallow as five fathoms. They operate within the Mine Force as "in service" craft. They also acted as danning ships.
[edit] USS GREER COUNTY (LST 799)
The mission of the USS GREER COUNTY was to provide mobile logistic support for minecraft. The ship carried machinery, repair parts, electrical repair parts and tubes, minesweeping spares, GSK material provisions, the ship's store stock, clothing and small stores. The ship also functioned as the flagship for Commander Mine Squadron SEVEN.
[edit] USS MULBERRY (AN 27)
The mission of the USS MULBERRY was to transport, lay and recover mines and buoys. The MULBERRY was capable of laying, maintaining and recovering antisubmarine nets and associated harbor defense equipment, and operated as net gate ship.
[edit] WWII history
Mine Squadron SEVEN was established at an unknown date. Records available at this command (located at Long Beach Naval Station) begin January 1943.
January 1943 - Commander Mine Squadron SEVEN, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, and commanded by Captain A. G. Cook, Jr., was composed of approximately thirteen ships of the AM and DMS class. COMINRON SEVEN at this time was undergoing intensive training of fire spotting practice, maneuvers and escort work. The feasibility of these ships for antisubmarine work was being tested and the anti-aircraft armament was being increased.
June 1944 - COMINRON SEVEN deployed off the shores of France, engaged in minesweeping operations and participated in the invasion of France in June 1944. The squadron lost several ships sunk by mines and torpedoes.
July 1944 - Ships of COMINRON SEVEN swept enemy mines along the south coast of England, operating under CTF 125 and 129 and further participated in the bombardment of Cherbourg.
September 1944 - Commander Mine Squadron SEVEN as Commander Task Unit 80.10.3 composed of Mine Division 16, 21, 10 YMSs, 3 SCs (MS), 12 LCVPs (MS) operated in Marseille, France, area carrying out the tasks of Marseille harbor clearance and clearance of Port St. Louis and canal, and other channels and areas.
October 1944 - Having completed all clearance commitments of Marseille, France area during the month of September, COMINRON SEVEN continued daily maintenance sweeps of approach channels and anchorage areas.
November 1944 - Commander Mine Squadron SEVEN operated under Commander EIGHT Fleet with Mine Division TWENTY-ONE remaining at Bizerte, Tunisia, for maintenance and training while the squadron commander (temporarily aboard the USS CHICKADEE) supervised sweeping operations in the Cannes, Golfe Juan area, and another group assisted ships of Mine Division THIRTY-TWO in sweeping the Tunisian war channel. At this time COMINRON SEVEN was assigned the additional duty of Commander Escort Sweeper Group, Eighth Amphibious Force.
December 1944 - During this period Mine Squadron SEVEN was operating on several commitments under commander EIGHTH Fleet. One group of ships of Mine Division TWENTY-ONE were undergoing repairs and maintenance, while the others were sweeping in areas off southern France and Magdalena. Ships of Mine Division EIGHTEEN, composing the other divisions of MINRON SEVEN, were operating at Bizerte undergoing repairs for return to the United States, departing the latter part of the month. While at Bizerte during the period 24 November to 24 December 1944, COMINRON SEVEN served in the additional capacity of Commander Escort Sweeper Group, EIGHTH Fleet, and had charge of all U.S. naval sweeping units of the Mediterranean theatre.
January 1945 - During this period COMINRON SEVEN was engaged in supervising and coordinating sweeping operations and furnishing supplies to all minesweeping units operating under Amphibious Force, EIGHTH Fleet. These units were composed of ships of Mine Divisions TWENTY-ONE, THIRTY-TWO and YMSs.
February 1945 - During this period COMINRON SEVEN was engaged in supervising and coordinating all sweeping operations and distribution of supplies, mail and personnel to all minesweeping units operating under Commander Amphibious Force, EIGHTH Fleet.
[edit] Post-war structure
Mine Squadron SEVEN was disestablished in 1946 and reestablished at unknown date, the earliest records available after disestablishment being in late 1954.
From 1954-56, Mine Squadron SEVEN was composed of:
- Commander Mine Squadron SEVEN
- USS GREER COUNTY (LST 799) (Flagship)
- USS MULBERRY (AN 27)
- USS SHEA (DM 30)
- Mine Division SEVENTY-ONE
- USS DEXTROUS (MSF 344)
- USS REDSTART (MSF 378)
- USS SURFBIRD (MSF 383)
- USS WAXWING (MSF 389)
- USS PTARMIGAN (MSF 376)
- USS TOUCAN (MSF 387)
- Mine Division SEVENTY-TWO
- USS SHOVELER (MSF 382)
- USS RUDDY (MSF 380)
- USS ZEAL (MSF 131)
- USS SYMBOL (MSF 123)
- USS MURRELET (MSF 372)
- USS SWIFT (MSF 122)
- USS CORMORANT (MSC 122)
- USS PEACOCK (MSC 198)
- USS PHOEBE (MSC 199)
- USS VIREO (MSC 205)
- USS WARBLER (MSC 206)
- USS WHIPPOORWILL (MSC 207)
- USS WIDGEON (MSC 208)
- USS WOODPECKER (MSC 209)
[edit] Post-war history and organization
In 1956, several of the MSFs were decommissioned or redeployed. The entire Squadron was reorganized. MSCs from Mine Division NINETY-TWO became the new Mine Division SEVENTY-ONE, while MSCs from Mine Division NINETY-FOUR became Mine Division SEVENTY-TWO, and MSCs from Mine-Division NINETY-SIX became Mine Division SEVENTY-THREE. The USS SHEA, assigned to COMINRON SEVEN was decommissioned in early 1958. The USS GREER COUNTY and USS MULBERRY remain part of COMINRON SEVEN. Since becoming Mine Squadron SEVEN's Flagship in late 1956, the GREER COUNTY participated in various local and interservice operations, including PACMINEX of 1957, 1958, and 1959, PACPHIBLEX of 1958 and 1959, and operated with COMINDIV 73 in exercise PACSWEEPEX 3. The USS MULBERRY, being the only minelayer in EASTPAC, has participated in many exercises and operations in the capacity of mine/buoy layer and recoverer. Those operations included fleet service mine tests, all PACMINEXs and PACPHIBLEXs.
[edit] Mine Division SEVENTY-ONE
COMINRON SEVEN, in November 1958, received the COVE (MSI 1) and in February 1959 the CAPE (MSI 2), two new prototype inshore minesweepers for evaluation. The CAPE had an allowance of eighteen enlisted personnel and three officers and can remain at sea for a period of 5-7 days. The COVE participated in PACMINEX 2-59. Both vessels underwent mine countermeasures refresher training. In 1952, Mine Division SEVENTY-ONE became Mine Division NINETY-TWO. From July 1954 until July 1955, this division was employed in type training in the Long Beach, California area under operational control of Commander Task Group 59.2. During this period, much time was spent in the Naval Shipyard to correct design faults of these new type ships.
In July 1955, Mine Division NINETY-TWO deployed to the Western Pacific and reported to Commander Mine Flotilla ONE for operational control. Type training was conducted off the coast of Korea. In February 1956, the division returned to Long Beach. From then until January 1958, the division operated in the Long Beach area conducting type training. In April of 1957, all ships visited Acapulco, Mexico. Also in April of 1957 and in conjunction with a reorganization of the Mine Force, Pacific Fleet, Mine Division NINETY-TWO became Mine Division SEVENTY-ONE. In January 1958, the division again deployed to the Western Pacific for operations under operational control of Commander Mine Flotilla ONE. The division returned to Long Beach in July 1958. In September, all ships participated in the minesweeping phase of an amphibious exercise at Oceanside, California. The remainder of 1958 was spent in holiday leave and upkeep.
[edit] Mine Division SEVENTY-TWO
Mine Division SEVENTY-TWO was reinforced with five non-magnetic wooden hull class 421 minesweepers. They were the USS EMBATTLE (MSO 434), USS FIRM (MSO 444), USS FORCE (MSO 445), USS PRIME (MSO 466), and USS REAPER (MSO 467). These ships were constructed on the West Coast of the United States and were commissioned in late 1954 and early 1955. The ships were originally assigned to Mine Division NINETY-FOUR, however in 1957 that unit was merged into Mine Division SEVENTY-TWO. Originally the ships were commissioned as "AM" with their particular hull numbers assigned. On 1 January 1955 the ships in Mine Division SEVENTY-TWO, as with other ships of their type, were redesignated MSO (Minesweeper Ocean).
[edit] Mine Division SEVENTY-THREE
Mine Division SEVENTY-THREE was composed of the USS ESTEEM (MSO 438), USS ACME (MSO 508), USS CONQUEST (MSO 488), USS GALLANT (MSO 489) and USS PLEDGE (MSO 492). They were commissioned in the summer of 1955, spring and summer of 1956. Mine Division SEVENTY-THREE came into being in January 1957. In February 1957, Mine Division SEVENTY-THREE was making preparation for deployment to the Western Pacific, departing Long Beach on 4 March 1957. Routine minesweeping operations and several joint minesweeping exercises with the Chinese and Korean navies were conducted while deployed. The division left the shipyard in February 1958 and underwent refresher and mine countermeasures training.
[edit] Decommissioning
Commander Mine Squadron SEVEN was located in Building 145, Long Beach Naval Station, when it was disestablished on June 1, 1968.
