View source for USS Opponent

{{short description|Minesweeper of the United States Navy}}

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|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag= {{USN flag|1944}}
|Ship name=USS ''Opponent''
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|Ship builder= Gulf Shipbuilding Company
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|Ship laid down= 21 September 1942 
|Ship launched= 26 June 1943
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|Ship commissioned= 18 February 1944
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|Ship decommissioned= 27 August 1946
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|Ship reclassified=MSF-269, 7 February 1955
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|Ship struck=1 April 1960
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|Ship fate= Sold, 3 February 1961
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Ship class={{sclass|Admirable|minesweeper}}
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|Ship displacement=650 tons
|Ship length={{convert|184|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|33|ft|m|abbr=on}}
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|Ship draft={{convert|9|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}}
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|Ship propulsion=*2 × ALCO 539 [[diesel engine]]s, 1,710 shp (1.3 MW)
*[[Farrel-Birmingham]] [[Gear|single reduction gear]]
*2 shafts
|Ship speed={{convert|14.8|kn|km/h|1}}
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|Ship complement=104 
|Ship armament=*1 ×  [[3"/50 caliber gun]]
*2 × twin [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors 40 mm gun]]
*1 × [[Hedgehog (weapon)|Hedgehog]] anti-submarine mortar
*2 × [[Depth charge]] tracks
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|partof=*[[United States Fleet Forces Command|US Atlantic Fleet]] (1944-1945)
*[[United States Pacific Fleet|US Pacific Fleet]] (1945-1946)
*[[United States Navy reserve fleets|Atlantic Reserve Fleet]] (1946-1960)
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'''USS ''Opponent'' (AM-269)''' was an [[Admirable-class]] [[Minesweeper (ship)|minesweeper]] built for the [[U.S. Navy]] during [[World War II]]. She was built to clear minefields in offshore waters, and served the Navy in the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and then was transferred to the North [[Pacific Ocean]] before war’s end.

''Opponent'' was laid down 21 September 1942 by the [[Gulf Shipbuilding]] Co., [[Chickasaw, Alabama]], launched 12 June 1943; sponsored by Mrs. H. Key, Jr.; and, commissioned 18 February 1944.

== World War II Atlantic operations ==
After [[shakedown cruise|shakedown]] along the Atlantic coast and in the [[Gulf of Mexico|Gulf]] ''Opponent'' departed [[Norfolk, Virginia]], 12 April for [[Casco Bay]], [[Maine]]. There she conducted [[antisubmarine]] exercises until she sailed for [[New York City|New York]] escorting {{USS|Pontiac|AF-20}}, arriving Norfolk 29 April. Early the next month, ''Opponent's'' commanding officer was ordered to assume command of Mine Squadron 33 as well as to retain command of his ship. For the next year, the little minesweeper alternated between patrol work, type training and weather ship duties.

== Transfer to the Pacific Fleet ==
On 16 March 1945 she sailed for the Pacific. Arriving [[San Diego, California]], on  5 April, ''Opponent'' was assigned to Mine Division 44. She departed San Diego three days later and arrived [[Pearl Harbor]] on the 13th. For the remainder of the war, ''Opponent'' escorted [[convoys]] between Southeast Asia and Pearl Harbor. She continued this service until early 1946, when she sailed to [[Orange, Texas]].

== Post-war decommissioning  ==
''Opponent'' was decommissioned on 27 August 1946. She was reclassified MSF-269 on 7 February 1955. She was stricken from the Naval [[Navy list|Vessel Register]] on 1 April 1960 and was sold to Ships & Power Inc., [[Miami, Florida]], on 3 February 1961.

== References ==
{{DANFS}}

== External links ==
*{{cite web | access-date= 2008-02-18
 | url= http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/o3/opponent.htm
 | title= ''Opponent''
 | work= [[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships|DANFS]]
 | publisher= U.S. [[Naval Historical Center]] }}
*{{cite web | access-date= 2008-02-18
 | url= http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/02269.htm
 | title= ''Opponent''
 | work= Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive | publisher= NavSource Online }}

{{Admirable-class minesweepers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Opponent (AM-269)}}
[[Category:Admirable-class minesweepers]]
[[Category:Ships built in Chickasaw, Alabama]]
[[Category:1943 ships]]
[[Category:World War II minesweepers of the United States]]