USS Harlequin

USS Harlequin (AM-365) was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic during World War II. She was decommissioned in May 1946 and placed in reserve. While she remained in reserve, Harlequin was reclassified as MSF-365 in February 1955 but never reactivated. In October 1962, she was sold to the Mexican Navy and renamed ARM DM-20. From 1976–1978 she was converted to an oceanographic research vessel and renamed ARM Oceanográfico (H02) around the same time. In 1993 she was renamed ARM General Pedro María Anaya (A08). In the late 1990s, she was again renamed, this time to ARM Aldabaran (BE02), as a school ship. As of 2007^[update], Aldebaran remained in active service with the Mexican Navy.

ARM Aldabaran (BE02) seen in 2006.
History
United States
Name	USS Harlequin (AM-365)
Builder	Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon
Laid down	3 August 1943
Launched	3 June 1944
Sponsored by	Mrs. Mary M. Doig
Commissioned	31 August 1945
Decommissioned	27 May 1946
Reclassified	MSF-365, 7 February 1955
Stricken	1 May 1962
Fate	Transferred to Mexican Navy, 2 October 1962
History
Mexico
Name	ARM DM-20
Acquired	2 October 1962
Refit	converted to oceanographic research vessel, 1976–1978[1]
Renamed	ARM Oceanográfico (H02), c. 1978[1]
Renamed	ARM General Pedro María Anaya (A08), 1993[1]
Renamed	ARM Aldabaran (BE02), after April 1999[1]
Status	in active service, as of 2007[update][1]
General characteristics
Class & type	Admirable-class minesweeper
Displacement	650 long tons (660 t)
Length	184 ft 6 in (56.24 m)
Beam	33 ft (10 m)
Draft	9 ft 9 in (2.97 m)
Propulsion	2 × ALCO 539 diesel engines, 1,710 shp (1,280 kW) Farrel-Birmingham single reduction gear 2 shafts
Speed	15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement	104
Armament	1 × 3"/50 caliber (76 mm) DP gun 2 × twin Bofors 40 mm guns 1 × Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar 2 × Depth charge tracks
Service record
Part of:	U.S. Atlantic Fleet (1945–1946) Atlantic Reserve Fleet (1946–1962) Mexican Navy (1962 to present)

U.S. Navy career

Harlequin was launched 3 June 1944 by Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon; sponsored by Mrs. Mary M. Doig, whose husband and son were reported missing in action and who also had another son, a brother, and nine nephews in the Navy. She commissioned 28 September 1945. Reporting to San Pedro, California, for shakedown 19 October, Harlequin remained there until 29 November, when she sailed south, reaching New Orleans, Louisiana, 15 December. Harlequin sailed to Orange, Texas, 2 April 1946 and decommissioned there 27 May. While she remained in reserve, Harlequin was reclassified MSF-365 on 7 February 1955. Harlequin was struck from the Navy List on 1 May 1962, and later, on 2 October 1962, sold to Mexico.

Mexican Navy career

The former Harlequin was acquired by the Mexican Navy in October 1962 and renamed ARM DM-20. From 1976–1978 she was disarmed and converted to an oceanographic research vessel; she was renamed ARM Oceanográfico (H02) around this same time. In 1993, she was renamed ARM General Pedro María Anaya (A08). Some time after April 1999, she was rearmed and converted to a school ship (Spanish: barque escuela) and renamed ARM Aldabaran (BE02).^[1]

As of 2007^[update],^[1] Aldebaran remained in active service with the Mexican Navy. The vessel was later sunk to create an artificial reef. This reef is a popular dive spot for tourists.^[2]