USSScuffle (AM-298) was anAdmirable-classminesweeper built for theUnited States Navy duringWorld War II. She was awarded aPresidential Unit Citation and fivebattle stars for service in the Pacific during World War II. She was decommissioned in June 1946 and placed in reserve. While remaining in reserve,Scuffle was reclassified asMSF-298 in February 1955, but never reactivated. In October 1962, she was sold to theMexican Navy and renamedARMDM-05. In 1994, she was renamedARMGeneral Felipe Xicoténcatl (C53). She was sunk as an artificial reef and dive attraction offCozumel in 1999, and was stricken from the rolls of the Mexican Navy in 2000.
With her division,Scuffle participated in the pre-invasion sweeps atLingayen Gulf on 6 January 1945, and atZambales andSubic Bay on the 29th and 31st. In each instance, after completing the pre-invasion sweeps, she helped extend the cleared areas during and after the initial troop landings, and providedantisubmarine andantiaircraft protection for the transports.
On 13 February, her division began pre-invasion sweeps inManila Bay in preparation for landings atMariveles andCorregidor. While operating offCorregidor on the 14th, the minesweepers came within 5,000 yards (4,600 m) of the island and were repeatedly straddled by Japanese fire before supporting ships silenced the enemy's guns.Scuffle continued sweeping in Manila Bay through 18 February, and her unit earned aNavy Unit Commendation for the operation. On 24 February,Scuffle re-enteredManila Bay with 15YMS's to clear the harbor of mines and submergedwrecks. Her force, plus thesalvage shipUSS Cable (ARS-19), accomplished the task by 10 April, sweeping 615 square miles (1,590 km2) of water and opening the Harbor to supply ships. On 22 April, she rejoined Mine Division 34 in an 8-day sweep of theSulu Sea offPalawan. On 9 May, the minesweeper arrived atMorotai to prepare for operations in theNetherlands East Indies.
On 2 June,Scuffle sailed fromMorotai with her division to carry out a pre-invasion sweep inBrunei Bay. She ran aground on areef on 6 June, damaging ascrew, but was able to carry out her assigned sweeps before sailing, on 12 June, for repairs atSubic Bay. She rejoined her division on 26 June offBalikpapan and provided support toYMS's performing the pre-invasion sweep. She left Balikpapan on 8 July and returned toSubic Bay for a month of overhaul.Scuffle's task group received aPresidential Unit Citation for its service off Balikpapan.
The minesweeper left thePhilippines on 6 September and arrived atSasebo, Japan, on 20 October after weathering three typhoons en route. She helped sweep Japanese minefields inTsushima Strait and theRyukyu Islands until sailing from Sasebo for home on 9 December. Arriving atOrange, Texas, on 2 April 1946, she was decommissioned there on 19 June 1946 and placed in reserve.Scuffle received 5battle stars for her World War II service.
While she remained in reserve,Scuffle was reclassified MSF-298 effective 7 February 1955. She was struck from theNavy list on 1 May 1962 and transferred to Mexico on 1 October 1962.
In October 1962, the formerScuffle was acquired by theMexican Navy and renamed ARMDM-05. In 1994, she was renamedARMGeneral Felipe Xicoténcatl (C53). In 1999, she was reportedly sunk offCozumel, then, in 2000, was stricken from the rolls of the Mexican Navy.[1]
After 55 years of service C-53 was decommissioned and later donated to Cozumel underwater park. C-53 was sunk in 1999 in 82' of water just off shore from Chankanaab Park.[2][3] The C-53 was stabilized and anchored by a series of massive concrete blocks and became home to an abundance of soft corals, sponges and tropical fish. A common inhabitant of the C-53 are the GlassySweepers. On October 22, 2005, a Category 5 hurricane named "Wilma", pushed the C-53 from its original position North approximately 100 feet. However the ship remains vertical and is stable for continued diving and exploration. As of this update, the C-53 is home to a wide array of corals, soft corals, sponges and marine life. It is one of the most popular dives of the region among suitably certified divers. Due to its depth, it is not a dive for beginners.
United States
Mexico
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.
