WWII history
Mine Squadron 7 was established at an unknown date. Records available at this command (located at Long Beach Naval Station) begin January 1943.
In January 1943 Commander Mine Squadron 7, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, and commanded by Captain A. G. Cook, Jr., was composed of approximately thirteen ships of the AM (Minesweeper) and DMS (Destroyer Minesweeper) class. COMINRON SEVEN at this time was undergoing intensive training of fire spotting practice, maneuvers and escort work. The feasibility of these ships for anti-submarine work was being tested and the anti-aircraft armament was being increased.
In June 1944 COMINRON SEVEN was 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.
In July 1944 ships of COMINRON SEVEN swept enemy mines along the south coast of England, operating under Commander Task Force 125 and Commander Task Force 129 and further participated in the Bombardment of Cherbourg.
In September 1944 Commander Mine Squadron 7 as Commander Task Unit 80.10.3 composed of Mine Divisions 16 and 21, ten YMSs (Auxiliary Motor Minesweepers), three SCs (Submarine chasers), and twelve LCVPs, operated in the Marseille, France, area carrying out the tasks of harbor clearance and clearance of Port St. Louis, and canal, and other channels and areas.
In October 1944, having completed all clearance commitments at Marseille during September, COMINRON SEVEN continued daily maintenance sweeps of approach channels and anchorage areas.
In November 1944 Commander Mine Squadron 7 operated under Commander 8th Fleet with Mine Division 21 remaining at Bizerte, Tunisia, for maintenance and training while the squadron commander (temporarily aboard Chickadee (AM-59)) supervised sweeping operations in the Cannes, Golfe-Juan area, and another group assisted ships of Mine Division 32 in sweeping the Tunisian war channel. At this time COMINRON SEVEN was assigned the additional duty of Commander Escort Sweeper Group, Eighth Amphibious Force.
During December 1944 Mine Squadron 7 was operating on several commitments under commander 8th Fleet. One group of ships of Mine Division 21 were undergoing repairs and maintenance, while the others were sweeping in areas off southern France and Magdalena. Ships of Mine Division 18, composing the other divisions of MinRon 7, 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, 8th Fleet, and had charge of all U.S. naval sweeping units of the Mediterranean theatre.
During January 1945 COMINRON SEVEN was engaged in supervising and coordinating sweeping operations and furnishing supplies to all minesweeping units operating under Amphibious Force, 8th Fleet. These units were composed of ships of Mine Divisions 21 and 32, and YMSs.
During February 1945 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, 8th Fleet.
Post-war history and organization
In 1956, several MSFs were decommissioned or redeployed. The entire Squadron was reorganized. MSCs from Mine Division 92 became the new Mine Division 71, while MSCs from Mine Division 94 became Mine Division 72, and MSCs from Mine Division 96 became Mine Division 73. Shea, assigned to COMINRON SEVEN was decommissioned in early 1958. Greer County and Mulberry remain part of COMINRON SEVEN. Since becoming Mine Squadron 7's Flagship in late 1956, 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. 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.
Mine Division 71
COMINRON SEVEN received two new prototype inshore minesweepers for evaluation; Cove (MSI-1) in November 1958, and Cape (MSI-2) in February 1959. Cape had an allowance of eighteen enlisted personnel and three officers and can remain at sea for a period of 5–7 days. Cove participated in PACMINEX 2–59. Both vessels underwent mine countermeasures refresher training. In 1952, Mine Division 71 became Mine Division 92. 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 92 deployed to the Western Pacific and reported to Commander Mine Flotilla 1 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 1957, all ships visited Acapulco, Mexico. Also in April 1957 and in conjunction with a reorganization of the Mine Force, Pacific Fleet, Mine Division 92 became Mine Division 71. In January 1958, the division again deployed to the Western Pacific for operations under operational control of Commander Mine Flotilla 1. 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.
Mine Division 72
Mine Division 72 was reinforced with five non-magnetic wooden-hulled Aggressive-class minesweepers. They were Embattle (MSO-434), Firm (MSO-444), Force (MSO-445), Prime (MSO-466), and 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 94, however in 1957 that unit was merged into Mine Division 72. Originally the ships were commissioned as "AM" with their particular hull numbers assigned. On 1 January 1955 the ships in Mine Division 72, as with other ships of their type, were redesignated MSO (Minesweeper Ocean).
Mine Division 73
Mine Division 73 was composed of Esteem (MSO-438), Acme (MSO-508), Conquest (MSO-488), Gallant (MSO-489) and Pledge (MSO-492). They were commissioned in the summer of 1955, spring and summer of 1956. Mine Division 73 came into being in January 1957. In February 1957, Mine Division 73 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.
Decommissioning
Commander Mine Squadron 7 was located in Building 145, Long Beach Naval Station, when it was disestablished on 1 June 1968.
USS Gallant (MSO-489), an Aggressive-class minesweeper, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named Gallant. The ship served in the US Navy from 1954 until 1994, when it was sold to Taiwan under the Security Assistance Program and renamed to Yung Ku.
USS Ruddy (AM-380) was an Auk-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing. She was the only U.S. Navy ship named for the North American ruddy duck.
USS Vital (AM-474/MSO-474) was an Agile-class minesweeper in service with the United States Navy from 1955 to 1972. She was sold for scrap in 1979.
USS Swerve (MSO-495) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.
USS Acme (MSO-508) was an Acme-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.
USS Dynamic (AM-432/MSO-432) was an Agile-class minesweeper in service with the United States Navy and the Spanish Navy. Laid down on 31 October 1951 at Colberg Boat Works, Stockton, California; launched on 17 December 1952; commissioned as USS Dynamic (AM-432) on 15 December 1953; redesignated MSO-432, 7 February 1955.
USS Avenge (MSO-423) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for the task of clearing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.
USS Dominant (MSO-431) was an Agile-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy.
USS Fortify (AM-446/MSO-446) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing Contact, Magnetic, and Acoustic mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.
USS Impervious (AM-449/MSO-449) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.
USS Implicit (AM-455/MSO-455) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.
USS Inflict (AM-456/MSO-456) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.
USS Notable (AM-460/MSO-460) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.
USS Leader (AM-490/MSO-490) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.
USS Stalwart (MSO-493) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.
USS Venture (AM-496/MSO-496) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.
USS Adroit (AM-509/MSO-509) was an minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.
Operation End Sweep was a United States Navy and United States Marine Corps operation to remove naval mines from Haiphong harbor and other coastal and inland waterways in North Vietnam between February and July 1973. The operation fulfilled an American obligation under the Paris Peace Accord of January 1973, which ended direct American participation in the Vietnam War. It also was the first operational deployment of a U.S. Navy air mine countermeasures capability.
USS Thrasher (AMS/MSC-203) was a Bluebird-class minesweeper acquired by the US Navy for clearing coastal minefields.
The Mine Warfare Force belonged to the minesweeping force for the self-defense fleet of the Maritime Self-Defense Forces. Its main task is to lay naval mines in the event of an emergency, and it also helps to dispose of mines installed during World War II.
