USS Chief ( AM - 315 ) USS " Chief " ( AM - 315 ) was an acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing , and named after the word " chief , " the head or leader of a group . Originally intended for Great Britain , HMS " Alice " ( BAM - 2 ) was launched 5 January 1943 by General Engineering and Dry Dock Co . , Alameda , California ; renamed and reclassified USS " Chief " ( AM - 315 ) , 23 January 1943 ; and commissioned 9 October 1943 , Lieutenant Commander J . M . Wyckoff , USNR , in command . Service history . World War II . Departing San Diego , California , 7 December 1943 , " Chief " joined in exercises in Hawaiian waters until 22 January 1944 when she sailed for Kwajalein . She swept the harbor and joined the antisubmarine patrol until 14 February , when she returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs . Except for a convoy escort voyage to Eniwetok ( 21 March - 15 April ) , she remained at Pearl Harbor until 29 May . Joining Task Force TF 52 at Eniwetok , " Chief " sortied 12 June 1944 for the Marianas operation . Between 15 June and 7 August , she cleared mines for the invasions of Saipan and Tinian , and gave fire support to troops ashore , then had local duty at Saipan . Departing 9 September she escorted cargo ship " De Grasse " ( AP - 164 ) to Pearl Harbor , then continued to San Francisco , California for overhaul . Returning to Pearl Harbor on 2 January 1945 , " Chief " voyaged to Eniwetok on convoy escort duty , then conducted exercises in Hawaiian waters until clearing for Ulithi , where she arrived 4 March . After receiving new equipment , she sailed for Okinawa on 15 May . From 26 May to 21 August she acted as flagship for the group conducting hydrographic survey of Unten Ko , and developing it as a minecraft typhoon anchorage . On 8 September " Chief " put out for Wakayama , Japan , where until 6 October she swept minefields in preparation for the arrival of occupation forces . She also assisted in the salvage of " YMS - 418 " on 28 September . " Chief " remained on occupation duty at Nagoya and Sasebo , Japan , until 10 March 1946 when she steamed for San Francisco , California , arriving 19 April . She was placed out of commission in reserve 17 March 1947 , berthed at San Pedro , California . Korea . Recommissioned 28 February 1952 at Long Beach , Chief conducted training exercises off San Diego , California , until 7 July when she sailed for Sasebo , Japan , arriving 3 August . She operated with Task Force TF 95 around mine - infested Wonsan Harbor and was twice fired on by enemy shore batteries . She returned to Long Beach , California 5 February 1953 for local operations and training . Her second Korean tour from 5 October 1953 to 2 June 1954 found her patrolling with Task Force TF 95 off both coasts of Korea to preserve the truce . She returned to west coast operations . Decommissioning and sale . On 1 November 1954 " Chief " was placed in commission in reserve . Reclassified MSF - 315 on 7 February 1955 , she was placed out of commission in reserve 15 March 1955 . " Chief " was sold to Mexico in February 1973 . Renamed ARM " Jesús González Ortega " ( C83 ) , she remained in active service with the Mexican Navy , . Awards and honors . " Chief " received five battle stars for World War II service and two battle stars for Korean war service .