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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

Ardent (MSF 340)
ex-USS Ardent (AM 340)



Call sign:
November - Delta - Foxtrot - Tango

ex-HMS Buffalo (BAM 8)


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

  • The second Ardent was laid down 20 February 1943 as HMS Buffalo (BAM 8) by the General Engineering and Dry Dock Co., Alameda, CA
  • Renamed Ardent and redesignated AM-340, 24 May 1943
  • Launched 22 June 1943
  • Commissioned USS Ardent (AM-340), 25 May 1944
  • Placed out of commission, in reserve, 30 January 1947 at San Diego, CA and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
    Naval Vessel Register of 1 January 1949 lists plan for decommissioning and placing in reserve as December 1946
  • Reclassified as a Fleet Minesweeper (Steel Hull), MSF-340, 7 February 1955
  • Struck from the Naval Register 1 July 1972
  • Sold to Mexico 19 September 1972 and renamed ARM Juan N. Álvarez (G-09)
  • Reclassified as an Ocean Patrol Vessel, PO-108
  • 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 single 20mm gun mounts, two depth charge tracks and five depth charge projectors
  • Propulsion: Two 2,976shp Baldwin VO8 diesel electric drive engines, Westinghouse single reduction gear, two shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS Ardent (AM 340)
    Ardent 174k 5 June 1944
    Off San Francisco.
    In Measure 32/lM camouflage
    National Archives photo 19-N-82913 from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships    		 Original photo: Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory)
    Replacement photo: Robert Hurst
    Ardent 142k Wearing camouflage 32/1M in San Francisco Bay on 5 June 1944. The colors are dull black, ocean gray and light gray
    National Archives photos BS 67517 and BS 67518 from the Bureau of Ships collection    		 Ships of the U.S. Navy in WWII “Dazzle” Camouflage
    Ardent 72k
    Ardent 157k Off Puget Sound Navy Yard, 8 August 1945, following a refit
    National Archives photo 19-N-89244    		 Mike Green
    ARM Juan N. Álvarez (P 108)
    Ardent 44k Namesake: Juan Álvarez - Juan Nepomuceno Álvarez Hurtado de Luna, generally known as Juan Álvarez, (27 January 1790 – 21 August 1867) was a general, long-time caudillo (regional leader) in southern Mexico, and interim president of Mexico for two months in 1855, following the liberals ouster of Antonio López de Santa Anna Tommy Trampp
    Ardent/Alvarez 62k Mexican Navy photo Mexican Navy
    Ardent
    110234007    		 683k Juan Álvarez (P-108) . Photo courtesy of Dave Shirlaw.
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR Allan Davis Curtis, USNR25 May 1944 - 12 August 1945
    02LT Robert Michael Simms, USNR12 August 1945
    03LT Frank Andrew Schwab, USNR26 October 1945 - 27 November 1945
    04LT Ralph Wilson Carson, USNR27 November 1945
    05LTJG Ralph Barton Pollack, USNR26 January 1946
    06LCDR John Robert Banks, USNR4 February 1946 - 30 January 1947
    Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler, Ron Reeves and R. A. Moody
    View the Ardent (MSF-340)
    DANFS History entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Website
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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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