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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

Deft (AM 216)



Call sign:
Nan - Charlie - Peter - Item


Deft served the Navies of the United States and the Republic of China.
Admirable Class Minesweeper:

  • Laid down 27 December 1942 by the Tampa Shipbuilding Co., Tampa, FL
  • Launched 28 March 1943
  • Commissioned USS Deft (AM 216), 16 April 1945
  • Decommissioned 9 November 1946 at Subic Bay, Philippines
  • Struck from the Naval Register 27 August 1948 and transfered to the Republic of China
  • Scrapped by the Chinese Navy 16 January 1959.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 945 t.(fl)
  • Length 184' 6"
  • Beam 33'
  • Draft 9' 9"
  • Speed 14.8 kts.
  • Complement 104
  • Armament: One 3"/50 dual purpose mount, one twin 40mm gun mount, six single 20mm gun mounts, one depth charge projector (hedgehog), four depth charge projectors (K-guns), and two depth charge tracks
  • Propulsion: Two 1,710shp Cooper Bessemer GSB-8 diesel engines, National Supply Co. single reduction gear, two shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Deft 84k 16 April 1945
    Mallory Line Docks, Tampa, FL
    Commissioning Day
    Front row: 3rd from left LTJG Alexander Z. "Jerry" Brown, USNR; 4th from left: LT John C. Engle, USNR, Commanding Officer
    Photo from National Museum of the U.S. Navy    		 Tommy Trampp>
    Deft 179k Back of crew photo
    Photo from National Museum of the U.S. Navy
    Deft 266k Photo from An Administrative History of the Bureau of Ships During World War II Tommy Trampp
    Photo added 11 March 2022
    Deft 53k 23 July 1945
    Off San Pedro, CA
    Photo from Exercise Tiger Memorial    		 Tommy Trampp
    Deft 332k In drydock astern of LCT-974
    Photo from National Museum of the U.S. Navy    		 Michael Mohl
    Commanding Officers
    01LT John Charles Engle, USNR16 April 1945
    02LTJG William Henry Hinkie, USNR23 March 1946
    03LCDR William Everett Hoppe, USNR - Awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat V and the Meritorious Service Medal
    Retired as Captain, USN    		30 May 1946
    Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler, Ron Reeves, R. A. Moody and Joe Radigan
    View the Deft (AM 216)
    DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway website
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    This page created and maintained by Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory) & David Wright
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