Opponent AM-269

Opponent
(AM-269: dp. 650; 1. 184'6"; b. 33'; dr. 9'9"; s. 14.8 k.; cpl. 104; a. 1 3", 2 t~vin 40mm, cl. Admirable)

The first Opponeent was laid down 21 SeDtember 1942 by the Gulf Shipbuilding Co., Chickasaw, Ala., Iaunched 12 June 1943; sponsored by Mrs. H. Key, Jr., comaussioned 18 February 1944; Lt. J. D. Seay, Jr., USNR, in command.

After shakedown along the Atlantic coast and in the Gulf Opponent departed Norfolk 12 April for Casco Bay, Me. There she conducted antisubmarine exercises until she sailed for New York escorting 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.

On 16 March 1945 she sailed for the Pacific. Arriving San Diego 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, Tex. Opponent decommissioned 27 August 1946. She was reclassified MSF-269 on 7 February 1955. She was striker from the Naval Vessel Register 1 April 1960 and was sold to Ships & Power Inc., Miami, Fla. on 3 February 1961.