USS Threat ( AM - 124 ) USS " Threat " ( AM - 124 ) 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 . " Threat " was laid down on 15 December 1941 at Savannah , Georgia , by the Savannah Machine and Foundry Co . ; launched on 15 August 1942 ; sponsored by Mrs . Allan M . Robinson ; and commissioned on 14 March 1943 , Comdr . Allan M . Robinson , USNR , in command . Convoy operations to North Africa . In March and April 1943 " Threat " completed shakedown and exercises off the U . S . East Coast as she prepared for duty as a convoy escort on the Eastern Sea Frontier . During April , the minesweeper escorted convoys along the $ 3 coast ; and , on 11 May , she got underway for her first transatlantic voyage . The convoy arrived at Casablanca on 1 June 1943 , and , on 9 June , " Threat " departed North Africa with a convoy bound for New York . Throughout 1943 , she continued escort duties in the Atlantic , completing three voyages to North Africa and numerous convoy shuttles along the Eastern Sea Frontier and into the Caribbean . European operations . Early in 1944 , " Threat " helped to protect a convoy as it steamed via the Azores to the British Isles . After this mission , " Threat " remained in the Falmouth area for repairs . In April and May , she operated out of Batten Bay and conducted exercises with ships of the British Royal Navy in preparation for Operation Overlord , the invasion of Normandy . Operation Overlord . On 2 June 1944 , the ship was sealed and briefing commenced . On 5 June 1944 , " Threat " departed Tor Bay with a minesweeping unit to take part in Operation Neptune , the assault phase of Operation Overlord . " Threat " helped clear the channels to be used by fire support ships in the Baie de la Seine . In the days that followed , " Threat " witnessed the sinking by mines of , , and . On 8 June , while aiding the disabled USS " Rich " , " Threat " narrowly missed becoming the victim of a mine that sank the destroyer escort off Cardonet Bank . A shore battery fired on " Threat " as she was running acoustic and magnetic sweeps off Cherbourg on 9 June . The doughty minesweeper returned the fire with her 3 - inch gun , silencing two shore gun employments and exploding a small ammunition dump . Commander , Mine Squadron 7 , later commended " Threat " for her performance that day and gave special praise to the smart ship - handling operations that those operations had entailed . Throughout June 1944 , " Threat " continued to sweep waters off the French coast , occasionally drawing fire from German guns but escaping unscathed . While she swept channels for fire support ships in preparation for the bombardment of Cherbourg , she came under heavy fire from enemy emplacements . In July , " Threat " conducted daily sweeps of the Baie de la Seine , necessitated by the delayed action and time - release settings of mines left by the German forces . Supporting the invasion of southern France . After replenishment at Plymouth , England , late in July , " Threat " returned to the Mediterranean . In August , she escorted convoys between Gibraltar and North Africa before proceeding to Corsica where she cleared shipping channels despite the activity of enemy planes . On 19 August , she got underway for assault areas on the southern coast of France . Operating out of St . Tropez and the Golfe de Fos , " Threat " conducted support activities for Operation Dragoon . In September , " Threat " continued sweeps , patrols , and mine - watching missions off the coast of southern France . Following a quick run to Naples for provisions and fuel , she returned to the French coast to supply YMS ' s and continue minesweeping . Early in October , " Threat " escorted a convoy to Bizerte before engaging in visual sweeps for mines off the German - held Italian coast . While pursuing these duties , " Threat " exchanged gunfire with enemy shore batteries on more than one occasion before returning to French waters late in October . Throughout November , " Threat " operated off France ' s southern coast . She cleared fire support channels and patrolled for floating mines in the area between Cannes and Sanremo , before departing Cannes on 27 November 1944 for provisioning and ammunition replenishment at Bizerte . The sweeper continued operations in the western Mediterranean in December . Early in the month , she swept mines off Cagliari , Sardinia ; and , on 28 December , she departed Oran , escorting TG 81 . 14 bound for American ports . On 17 January 1945 , she reached Norfolk after nearly a year of action in European waters . Stateside overhaul . " Threat " remained on the east coast for major overhaul and the installation of SA - 2 radar until 26 April when she departed Miami , Florida and steamed , via the Panama Canal Zone and San Diego , California , for Hawaii . She reached Pearl Harbor on 26 May 1945 and commenced gunnery and minesweeping exercises in preparation for her new assignment in the Pacific Ocean . On 11 June , she got underway for Ulithi where she rendezvoused with an Okinawa - bound convoy . Pacific Ocean operations . After her arrival at Buckner Bay on 6 July , " Threat " soon joined sweeping operations in the East China Sea . She continued these duties after V - J Day in August and , in September , took part in the clearing of heavily mined Tsugaru Strait in preparation for the occupation of Ominato . Through October and November , " Threat " continued sweeps in the East China Sea operating out of Honshū and Sasebo . In December , she plied the waters off Shanghai before setting course for San Diego and inactivation . Decommissioning . " Threat " was decommissioned on 31 May 1946 . Although she was reclassified as a steel - hulled fleet minesweeper ( MSF - 124 ) on 7 February 1955 , " Threat " never resumed active service in the U . S . Navy , and was ultimately struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 July 1972 . Transferred to the government of Mexico along with several sister - ships during 1973 , she was renamed ARM " Francisco Zarco " ( C81 ) . Her pennant number was later changed to G13 , and changed a final time to P112 in 1993 . , " Francisco Zarco " was in active service with the Mexican Navy . Awards . " Threat " received three battle stars for World War II service .