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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

USS Gladiator (MSF 319)
ex-USS Gladiator (AM 319)



Call sign:
November - Charlie - Mike - Echo

ex-HMS Blaze (BAM 6)


Gladiator served the Navies of the United States and Mexico.
Auk Class Minesweeper:

  • The first Gladiator was laid down 7 January 1943 as HMS Blaze (BAM 6) by the General Engineering and Dry Dock Co., Alameda, CA
  • Renamed and reclassified Gladiator (AM-319) in January 1943
  • Launched 1 May 1943
  • Commissioned USS Gladiator (AM-319), 23 February 1944
    Naval Vessel Register of 1 January 1949 lists plan for decommissioning and placing in reserve as March 1946
  • Decommissioned 4 October 1946 at San Diego, CA and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Recommissioned 29 February 1952 at Long Beach, CA
  • Reclassified as a Fleet Minesweeper (Steel Hull), MSF-319, 7 February 1955
  • Decommissioned 15 March 1955 at Long Beach, CA and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Long Beach Group
  • Struck from the Naval Register 1 July 1972
  • Sold to Mexico and renamed ARM Santos Degollado (G 07), 19 September 1972
  • Reclassified P-106
  • Fate unknown.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 890 t.
  • Length 221' 2"
  • Beam 32' 2"
  • Draft 10' 9"
  • Speed 18.1 kts.
  • Complement 105
  • Armament: One 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount, two twin 40mm gun mounts, two 20mm gun mounts, two depth charge tracks, and five depth charge projectors
  • Propulsion two 1,988shp Baldwin VO8 diesel electric drive engines, Westinghouse single reduction gear, two shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS Gladiator (AM 319)
    Gladiator 237k Wearing camouflage 32/1M taken by NAS Alameda on 11 March 1944. The colors are dull black, ocean gray and light gray
    National Archives photo 19-LCM-AM319-1    		 Ships of the U.S. Navy in WWII “Dazzle” Camouflage
    Gladiator 178k USS Gladiator (MCM 11) Website
    Gladiator 102k Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory)
    Competent 303k 29 February 1952
    Long Beach, CA
    Recommissioning of Competent (AM 316), Gladiator and Devastator (AM 318)    		 Ron Reeves
    Gladiator 149k 29 February 1952
    Long Beach, CA
    Closeup of above photo    		 Robert Hurst
    Competent 248k 29 February 1952
    Long Beach, CA
    Recommissioning of Competent (AM 316), Gladiator and Devastator (AM 318)    		 Ron Reeves
    Competent 790k Long Beach Press-Telegram article dated 29 February 1952
    Gladiator 73k 8 October 1952
    Laertes (AR-20) at Sasebo, Japan, with nine minesweepers and a harbor tug alongside. Ships nested from left to right are: Impeccable (AM-320), Gladiator, Shoveler (AM-382), Defense (AM-317), and Devastator (AM-318), Laertes, Condor (AMS-5), Kite (AMS-22), Curlew (AMS-8), Chatterer (AMS-40), and Wallacut (YTB-420)
    National Archives photo 80-G-63229    		 Naval Historical Center
    ARM Santos Degollado (P 106)
    Gladiator 74k Mexican Navy photo Mexican Navy
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR Robert William Costello, USNR23 February 1944
    02LT Frederick Small Eyster, USNR25 November 1944
    03LT Philip Morris Rogers, Jr., USNR6 February 1946
    04LCDR John Chapman Jolly, USN6 March 1946 - 4 October 1946
    05LT Joe Roderick Perry, USN26 February 1952
    Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler, Ron Reeves and R. A. Moody
    View the Gladiator (MSF-319)
    DANFS History entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Website
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Mine Warfare Ship Photo Index Back to the Fleet Minesweeper (MSF) Photo Index
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    This page was created by Gary P. Priolo & maintained by Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory) & David Wright
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