USS Chief (AM-315)

USS Chief (AM-315)

For other ships of the same name, see USS Chief.

Chief in 1952
Career (United States)
Name:	HMS Alice (BAM-2)
Builder:	General Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Alameda, California
Laid down:	25 July 1942
Launched:	5 January 1943
Renamed:	USS Chief (AM-315), 23 January 1943
Commissioned:	9 October 1943
Decommissioned:	17 March 1947
Recommissioned:	28 February 1952
Reclassified:	MSF-315, 7 February 1955
Decommissioned:	15 March 1955
Struck:	1 July 1972
Honours and awards:	5 battle stars (World War II) 2 battle stars (Korea)
Fate:	Sold to Mexico, February 1973
Career (Mexico)
Name:	ARM Jesús González Ortega (C83)
Namesake:	Jesús González Ortega
Acquired:	February 1973
Reclassified:	G15
Reclassified:	P114, 1993
Status:	in active service, as of 2007
General characteristics
Class & type:	Auk-class minesweeper
Displacement:	890 long tons (904 t)
Length:	221 ft 3 in (67.44 m)
Beam:	32 ft (9.8 m)
Draft:	10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)
Speed:	18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement:	100 officers and enlisted
Armament:	• 1 × 3"/50 caliber gun • 2 × 40 mm guns • 2 × 20 mm guns • 2 × depth charge tracks

USS Chief (AM-315) 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, and named after the word "chief," the head or leader of a group.

Originally intended for Great Britain, HMS Alice (BAM-2) was launched 5 January 1943 by General Engineering and Dry Dock Co., Alameda, California; renamed and reclassified USS Chief (AM-315), 23 January 1943; and commissioned 9 October 1943, Lieutenant Commander J. M. Wyckoff, USNR, in command.