View source for Mine Squadron 7

{{Short description|United States Navy minelaying unit}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{No footnotes|date=June 2008}}
'''Mine Squadron 7''', (full: ''Commander, Mine Squadron 7'', or alternately Mine Squadron SEVEN) is the designation for a [[United States Navy]] [[minelaying]] and retrieval command and unit. COMINRON SEVEN was assigned to the [[United States Pacific Fleet]] from some time before 1943 (exact date is unknown) until the unit's decommissioning in 1968. The word Commander in the unit's nomenclature refers both the entire unit, the headquarters section, and to the actual commanding officer.

==Mission and responsibilities==
===Mission of Commander Mine Squadron Seven===
The mission and responsibilities of COMINRON SEVEN's command were:

Exercise operational control; coordinate shakedown and refresher training; coordinate activation and inactivation of ships assigned to Mine Squadron 7; conduct type training and support inter-type training for ships of Mine Squadron 7; provide ships and services to other commands; conduct trials and tests of Mine Squadron 7 ships, mines, and equipment; lay, actuate and recover [[Naval mine|mines]]; conduct training of personnel assigned; carry out special assignments as directed; emphasize maintenance and repair of Mine Squadron 7 ships and equipment in order to insure a high state of combat readiness; conduct training in defense against [[Nuclear weapon|atomic]] (including [[radiological]]), [[biological warfare|bacteriological]] and [[chemical warfare]] and provide forces for [[search and rescue]] as required.

===Mission of other ships attached to Mine Squadron 7===
{{USS|Cove|MSI-1}} and {{USS|Cape|MSI-2|3}} were [[Minesweeper (ship)|inshore minesweepers]]. Their mission was to sweep sea mines. They were capable of sweeping [[magnetic]], [[acoustics|acoustic]], combination magnetic-acoustic and contact sea [[Naval mine|mines]] in water as shallow as five [[fathoms]]. They operate within the Mine Force as "in service" craft. They also acted as danning{{typo help inline|reason=similar to damning|date=September 2021}} ships.

====USS Greer County====
The mission of {{USS|Greer County|LST-799|3}} was to provide mobile [[Military logistics|logistic]] support for minecraft. The ship carried [[machinery]], repair parts, electrical repair parts and tubes, [[Naval mine#Mine sweeping|minesweeping]] spares, GSK material provisions, the ship's store stock, clothing and small stores. The ship also functioned as the flagship for Commander Mine Squadron 7.

====USS Mulberry====
The mission of {{USS|Mulberry|AN-27|3}} was to transport, lay and recover [[Naval mine|mines]] and [[buoys]]. ''Mulberry'' was capable of laying, maintaining and recovering [[anti-submarine]] nets and associated [[harbor]] defense equipment, and operated as net gate ship.

==WWII history==
Mine Squadron 7 was established at an unknown date. Records available at this command (located at [[Long Beach Naval Station]]) begin January 1943.

In January 1943 Commander Mine Squadron 7, homeported in [[Norfolk, Virginia]], and commanded by Captain A. G. Cook, Jr., was composed of approximately thirteen ships of the AM (Minesweeper) and DMS (Destroyer Minesweeper) class. COMINRON SEVEN at this time was undergoing intensive training of fire spotting practice, maneuvers and [[Military escort|escort]] work. The feasibility of these ships for [[anti-submarine]] work was being tested and the [[anti-aircraft]] armament was being increased.

In June 1944 COMINRON SEVEN was deployed off the shores of France, engaged in minesweeping operations and participated in the invasion of France in June 1944. The squadron lost several ships sunk by mines and [[torpedoes]].

In July 1944 ships of COMINRON SEVEN swept enemy mines along the south coast of England, operating under Commander [[Task Force 125]] and Commander [[Task Force 129]] and further participated in the [[Bombardment of Cherbourg]].

In September 1944 Commander Mine Squadron 7 as Commander Task Unit 80.10.3 composed of Mine Divisions 16 and 21, ten [[YMS]]s (Auxiliary Motor Minesweepers), three SCs ([[Submarine chaser]]s), and twelve [[LCVP (United States)|LCVPs]], operated in the [[Marseille]], France, area carrying out the tasks of [[harbor]] clearance and clearance of Port St. Louis, and [[canal]], and other [[Channel (geography)|channels]] and areas.

In October 1944, having completed all clearance commitments at Marseille during September, COMINRON SEVEN continued daily maintenance sweeps of approach channels and anchorage areas.

In November 1944 Commander Mine Squadron 7 operated under Commander [[United States Eighth Fleet|8th Fleet]] with Mine Division 21 remaining at [[Bizerte]], Tunisia, for maintenance and training while the squadron commander (temporarily aboard {{USS|Chickadee|AM-59|3}}) supervised sweeping operations in the [[Cannes]], [[Golfe-Juan]] area, and another group assisted ships of Mine Division 32 in sweeping the Tunisian war channel. At this time COMINRON SEVEN was assigned the additional duty of Commander Escort Sweeper Group, Eighth Amphibious Force.

During December 1944 Mine Squadron 7 was operating on several commitments under commander 8th Fleet. One group of ships of Mine Division 21 were undergoing repairs and maintenance, while the others were sweeping in areas off southern France and [[Magdalena Peninsula|Magdalena]]. Ships of Mine Division 18, composing the other divisions of [[MinRon]] 7, were operating at [[Bizerte]] undergoing repairs for return to the United States, departing the latter part of the month. While at Bizerte during the period 24 November to 24 December 1944, COMINRON SEVEN served in the additional capacity of Commander Escort Sweeper Group, 8th Fleet, and had charge of all U.S. naval sweeping units of the [[Mediterranean Theater of Operations|Mediterranean theatre]].

During January 1945 COMINRON SEVEN was engaged in supervising and coordinating sweeping operations and furnishing supplies to all minesweeping units operating under Amphibious Force, 8th Fleet. These units were composed of ships of Mine Divisions 21 and 32, and YMSs.

During February 1945 COMINRON SEVEN was engaged in supervising and coordinating all sweeping operations and distribution of supplies, mail and personnel to all minesweeping units operating under Commander Amphibious Force, 8th Fleet.

==Post-war structure==
Mine Squadron 7 was disestablished in 1946 and reestablished at unknown date, the earliest records available after disestablishment being in late 1954.

From 1954 to 1956, Mine Squadron 7 was composed of:

{| class="wikitable" border="1" width="300"
|-
! colspan=2 | Commander Mine Squadron 7
|-
| colspan=2 align="center"|{{USS|Greer County|LST-799|3}} (Flagship)<br />{{USS|Mulberry|AN-27|3}}<br />{{USS|Shea|DM-30|3}}
|-
! Mine Division 71||Mine Division 72
|-
| valign="top"|{{USS|Dextrous|MSF-341|3}}<br />{{USS|Redstart|MSF-378|3}}<br />{{USS|Surfbird|MSF-383|3}}<br />{{USS|Waxwing|MSF-389|3}}<br />{{USS|Ptarmigan|MSF-376|3}}<br />{{USS|Toucan|MSF-387|3}}||{{USS|Shoveler|MSF-382|3}}<br />{{USS|Ruddy|MSF-380|3}}<br />{{USS|Zeal|MSF-131|3}}<br />{{USS|Symbol|MSF-123|3}}<br />{{USS|Murrelet|MSF-372|3}}<br />{{USS|Swift|MSF-122|3}}<br />{{USS|Cormorant|MSC-122|3}}<br />{{USS|Peacock|MSC-198|3}}<br />{{USS|Phoebe|MSC-199|3}}<br />{{USS|Vireo|MSC-205|3}}<br />{{USS|Warbler|MSC-206|3}}<br />{{USS|Whippoorwill|MSC-207|3}}<br />[[USS Widgeon (AMS-208)|''Widgeon'' (MSC-208)]]<br />{{USS|Woodpecker|MSC-209|3}}
|-
|}

==Post-war history and organization==
In 1956, several MSFs were decommissioned or redeployed. The entire Squadron was reorganized. MSCs from Mine Division 92 became the new Mine Division 71, while MSCs from Mine Division 94 became Mine Division 72, and MSCs from Mine Division 96 became Mine Division 73. ''Shea'', assigned to COMINRON SEVEN was decommissioned in early 1958. ''Greer County'' and ''Mulberry'' remain part of COMINRON SEVEN. Since becoming Mine Squadron 7's Flagship in late 1956, ''Greer County'' participated in various local and interservice operations, including [[PACMINEX]] of 1957, 1958, and 1959, [[PACPHIBLEX]] of 1958 and 1959, and operated with COMINDIV 73 in exercise [[PACSWEEPEX]] 3. ''Mulberry'', being the only minelayer in [[EASTPAC]], has participated in many exercises and operations in the capacity of mine/buoy layer and recoverer. Those operations included [[fleet service mine tests]], all [[PACMINEX]]s and [[PACPHIBLEX]]s.

===Mine Division 71===
COMINRON SEVEN received two new prototype inshore minesweepers for evaluation; ''Cove'' (MSI-1) in November 1958, and ''Cape'' (MSI-2) in February 1959. ''Cape'' had an allowance of eighteen enlisted personnel and three officers and can remain at sea for a period of 5–7 days. ''Cove'' participated in PACMINEX 2–59. Both vessels underwent mine countermeasures refresher training. In 1952, Mine Division 71 became Mine Division 92. From July 1954 until July 1955, this division was employed in type training in the [[Long Beach, California]] area under operational control of Commander Task Group 59.2. During this period, much time was spent in the Naval Shipyard to correct design faults of these new type ships.

In July 1955, Mine Division 92 deployed to the Western Pacific and reported to Commander Mine Flotilla 1 for operational control. Type training was conducted off the coast of Korea. In February 1956, the division returned to Long Beach. From then until January 1958, the division operated in the Long Beach area conducting type training. In April 1957, all ships visited [[Acapulco]], Mexico. Also in April 1957 and in conjunction with a reorganization of the Mine Force, Pacific Fleet, Mine Division 92 became Mine Division 71. In January 1958, the division again deployed to the Western Pacific for operations under operational control of Commander Mine Flotilla 1. The division returned to Long Beach in July 1958. In September, all ships participated in the minesweeping phase of an amphibious exercise at [[Oceanside, California]]. The remainder of 1958 was spent in holiday leave and upkeep.

===Mine Division 72===
Mine Division 72 was reinforced with five non-magnetic wooden-hulled {{Sclass|Aggressive|minesweeper||ship}}s. They were {{USS|Embattle|MSO-434|3}}, {{USS|Firm|MSO-444|3}}, {{USS|Force|MSO-445|3}}, {{USS|Prime|MSO-466|3}}, and {{USS|Reaper|MSO-467|3}}. These ships were constructed on the West Coast of the United States and were commissioned in late 1954 and early 1955. The ships were originally assigned to Mine Division 94, however in 1957 that unit was merged into Mine Division 72. Originally the ships were commissioned as "AM" with their particular hull numbers assigned. On 1 January 1955 the ships in Mine Division 72, as with other ships of their type, were redesignated MSO (Minesweeper Ocean).

===Mine Division 73===
Mine Division 73 was composed of {{USS|Esteem|MSO-438|3}}, {{USS|Acme|MSO-508|3}}, {{USS|Conquest|MSO-488|3}}, {{USS|Gallant|MSO-489|3}} and {{USS|Pledge|MSO-492|3}}. They were commissioned in the summer of 1955, spring and summer of 1956. Mine Division 73 came into being in January 1957. In February 1957, Mine Division 73 was making preparation for deployment to the Western Pacific, departing Long Beach on 4 March 1957. Routine minesweeping operations and several joint minesweeping exercises with the Chinese and Korean navies were conducted while deployed. The division left the shipyard in February 1958 and underwent refresher and mine countermeasures training.

===Decommissioning===
Commander Mine Squadron 7 was located in Building 145, [[Long Beach Naval Station]], when it was disestablished on 1 June 1968.

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20020120063710/http://www.cmwc.navy.mil/ U.S. Navy COMINEWARCOM website]
*[http://unitpages.military.com/unitpages/unit.do?id=711691 Military.com entry for Mine Division 71]
*[http://nmsoa.org/chainlocker.htm Navy MSO Association website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070419205435/http://nmsoa.org/chainlocker.htm |date=19 April 2007 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060616023621/http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Bunker/2170/minedivision81.html List of MSO class ships, with statistics]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030415001811/http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Barracks/1960/MSO-426.htm Navy Minesweepers Webring]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060510011037/http://www.tf116.org/magazine/allhands5.html Mine Division 91 article in All Hands magazine, Nov 1966]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20091027081741/http://geocities.com/rcoopersr/ShipMovements.html COMINRON SEVEN ship movements]

[[Category:Ship squadrons of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1968]]
[[Category:Naval mine units and formations]]