Motive (AM-102)
1943-1966
A general word classification.
(AM‑102: displacement 890; length 221'2"; beam 32'0"; draft 10'9"; speed 18.1 knots; complement 105; armament 1 3-inch, 2 40 millimeter, 6 20 millimeter, 4 depth charge projectors, 1 depth charge projector (Hedgehog), 2 depth charge tracks.; class Auk)
Motive (AM‑102) was laid down on 14 April 1942 at Alameda, Calif., by the General Engineering & Dry Dock Co.; launched on 17 August 1942; and commissioned on 17 April 1943, Lt. Cmdr. Joseph G. Enzensperger, Jr., USNR, in command.
After shakedown, Motive got underway from San Francisco, Calif., on 5 June 1943 and arrived at Dutch Harbor, Unalaska Island, Territory of Alaska, on14 June. She made one round trip back to Alameda as a convoy escort from 26 June to 14 August Motive then operated continuously in the Aleutian Islands for the next four months as convoy escort and antisubmarine patrol. On 13 October, while anchored in Massacre Bay, Attu Island, Motive was attacked by about 10 Japanese planes making a fast high‑level attack. She received six near misses from 100‑pound bombs but no damage, and drove the enemy planes off with gunfire.
Motive sailed for Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, on 1 December 1943, and on 22 January 1944 sailed for Kwajalein, where she conducted minesweeping and antisubmarine operations until 14 February, when she departed for Pearl Harbor and repairs in California. Returning to Pearl Harbor on 22 May, she joined TF 52 for the capture of Saipan, whose assault began on 15 June. Motive, in TG 52.9, the demonstration group, participated in the dawn feint on the beaches north of Tanapag town, while the actual landings were taking place at Charan Kanoa. On patrol as antisubmarine and screening vessel, Motive fired on Japanese aircraft 16, 17, and 18 June, and was strafed by a Zero 17 June, receiving a number of hits which were quickly repaired.
Motive left Saipan for Eniwetok on 24 June 1944, returning on 9 July. She then conducted sweeping operations off the east coast of Saipan and undertook antisubmarine patrols. From 24 July until November Motive served as a convoy escort, antisubmarine patrol and screening ship, operating out of Saipan, Eniwetok, Guam, and Ulithi. While at Ulithi with a convoy on 20 November, Motive observed the torpedoing of the oiler Mississinewa (AO‑59), which broke into flame. The convoy got underway for Guam without further incident.
For the next five months, Motive served on convoy escort, antisubmarine, and screening patrols and hydrographic surveys out of Peleliu, Palaus; Guam; Eniwetok; Saipan; and Iwo Jima. On 25 April 1945 Motive headed back for the west coast, touching at Pearl Harbor and San Francisco before arriving 24 May at Seattle for overhaul.
As the war in the Pacific ended, Motive left Seattle on 4 September 1945 for Sasebo, arriving 20 October. From 28 October to 25 November she swept for mines in the East China Sea, locating and destroying a total of 31.
On 28 November 1945 Motive moored in Keelung Harbor, Kurun, Taiwan, and on 7 December went into dry dock at Shanghai. She returned to Sasebo on 21 December, departed on 1 January 1946 for the west coast, and was decommissioned and placed in reserve at San Diego on 15 June 1946.
Reclassified as a minesweeper, fleet, steel-hulled, she was re-designated MSF‑102 on 7 February 1955, Motive was stricken from the Naval Register on 1 December 1966. She was destroyed as a target by the Pacific Fleet.
Motive received three battle stars for her World War II service.
Updated, Robert J. Cressman
31 October 2023
