Rebel AM-284

Rebel

(AM-284: dp. 945 1. 184'6", b. 33'0", dr. 9'9", s. 14 k. cpl. 104; a. 1 3';, 4 40mm., 6 20mm., 2 dep. (hh.); cl.Admirable)

Rebel (AM-284) was laid down by the General Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Alameda, Calif., 10 May 1943, launched 28 October 1943, sponsored by Mrs. C. E. Guiness, and commissioned 12 September 1944, Lt. Comdr. E. S. Weymouth in command.

Following shakedown off the California coast, Rehel steamed for Pearl Harbor 9 November 1944, arriving 9 days later. On 16 December she began to escort Hawaii-Eniwetok convoys then proceeded via Tinian, to Iwo Jima, where she conducted preinvasion minesweeping and antisubmarine screening operations despite shore battery fire and plane attacks 16-28 February 1945.

Rebel then returned to the Marianas, whence she sailed for Ulithi to stage for Operation "Iceberg," the invasion of Okinawa. On 25 March she arrived off Kerama Retto. She swept the approaches to that anchorage and to the Hagushi beaches until 1 April. Resuming minesweeping operations after the landings on Okinawa, she shot down three Japanese planes on the 6th and on the same day rescued 34 crewmen from Rodman (DMS-21) and Emmons (DMS-22), both damaged by kamikazes.

Steaming to Ulithi 17 April, Rebel returned to Okinawa 16 May and, for the remainder of the war operated in the Ryukyus and the East China Sea. At the end of July she participated in the "Juneau" preinvasion sweeps in the East China Sea, sweeping a total of 16 mines. During the "Skagwav" sweeping operation in August, she swept 12 mines

On 6 September 1945 Rebel rendezvoused with other ships of the Pacific Fleet 200 miles off Honshu, arrived at Tsugaru Strait between Honshu and Hokkaido the next day, and commenced sweeping a channel into Mutsu Bay, Honshu ahead of the ocoupation fleet. She anchored at Ominato Naomi Base on the 8th.

From 16 September to 8 October, Rebel with 11 other AM's, cleared the entrances to Tsugaro Strait and swept off southern Hokkaido and northern Honshu, Rebel sweeping 21 mines. She then proceeded to Sasebo, Hiro Wan, and Koehi Eria, Honshu, for further sweeping operations.

On 20 November she departed Hiro Wan for the United States. Arriving at San Diego 18 December, she continued on transited the Panama Canal 29 December, and arrived at New Orleans 4 January 1946 to prepare for inactivation. Shifting to Orange, Tex., 11 April 1946, Rebel decommissioned 12 June 1946, and joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. Redesignated MSF-284 on 7 Februarv 1955, Rebel was shifted to the Green Cove Springs Fla., berthing area in June 1958 and returned to Orange in 1962. Her name was struck from the Navy list, 1 May 1962, and in October 1962, she was sold to the Government of Mexico which she served as the escort vessel DM-14.

Rebel earned four battle stars for World War II service.