USS Specter ( AM - 306 ) USS " Specter " ( AM - 306 ) was an built for the United States Navy during World War II . She was originally ordered , laid down , and launched as USS " Spector " ( AM - 306 ) , but was renamed the correctly spelled " Specter " in March 1944 . She was awarded four battle star s for service in the Pacific during World War II . She was decommissioned in 1946 and placed in reserve . While she remained in reserve , " Specter " was reclassified as MSF - 306 in February 1955 but never reactivated . In April 1973 , she was sold to the Mexican Navy and renamed ARM " DM - 04 " . In 1994 she was renamed ARM " General Manuel E . Rincón " ( C52 ) . She was stricken in July 2001 , but her ultimate fate is not reported in secondary source s . U . S . Navy career . Initially named " Spector " , the ship was laid down on 5 September 1943 by Associated Shipbuilders , Seattle , Washington ; launched on 15 February 1944 , sponsored by Miss Carol D . Petrie , and commissioned on 30 August 1944 , Lt . J . Chevalier , USNR , in command . " Specter " departed Seattle on 16 September en route to San Pedro , California . She conducted shakedown training off San Pedro and San Diego , California , from 21 September to 19 October . The minesweeper sailed from San Pedro on 9 November for Hawaii and arrived at Pearl Harbor on 18 November 1944 . Following training in gunnery , antisubmarine warfare , and minesweeping operations , she sailed on 22 January 1945 for the Volcano Islands . After stops at Eniwetok and Tinian , " Specter " arrived at Iwo Jima on 16 February , three days before the landing , and began minesweeping operations . She was busy clearing minefields , patrolling , and performing escort duty until 28 February when she sailed for Saipan . After a stop at Ulithi from 6 to 19 March " Specter " steamed to Okinawa . On arrival there on 25 March , she commenced pre - invasion minesweeping operations of sea - lanes and channels . The ship remained in the Okinawa area until 6 August . During this period , she conducted antisubmarine patrols , swept mines off Okinawa and Iheya Shima , and made two open - sea sweeps in the East China Sea . While on patrol off Ie Shima on 25 May , she shot down a Japanese fighter plane . " Specter " was in Leyte Gulf from 9 to 27 August . She sailed for Japan on 28 August and , after touching at Buckner Bay , Okinawa , arrived in Japanese home waters on 9 September . During the next three months she swept mines at Nagasaki , Sasebo , Bungo Suido , and Tsushima . On 11 December 1945 , " Specter " was ordered home ; she arrived at San Diego on 11 January 1946 ; and was routed onward to Orange , Texas , where she was placed in reserve , out of commission later in the year . " Specter " was re - designated MSF - 306 on 7 February 1955 while in reserve . She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 July 1972 and sold to Mexico on 11 April 1973 . In her U . S . Navy career , " Specter " was awarded four battle stars for her World War II service . Mexican Navy career . The former " Specter " was acquired by the Mexican Navy in April 1973 and renamed ARM " DM - 04 " . In 1994 , she was renamed ARM " General Manuel E . Rincón " ( C52 ) , after Mexican general Manuel E . Rincón . She was stricken on 16 July 2001 , but her ultimate fate is not reported in secondary source s .