This excerpt from Combat Fleets of the World, 1984/85 ed. by Jean Labayle Couhat, English translation by A.D. Baker II (© 1984 by United States Naval Institute ISBN 0-87021-136-6) shows the ship classes of the four ships on which I've served. I've made the effort to correct and update the basic source with current information.
Here is a list of all of the 102 MSO class Ocean Minesweepers Hull Numbers.
A total of 101 ships were built: Sixty-five were built for the United States and 36 were built for foreign governments; one ship was cancelled.
Probably the best all-encompassing source today is Dick Lewis' 102 Minesweepers. Go visit over there, and be sure to tell him I sent you!
«» 85 AGILE class oceangoing minesweepers
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv. Dispostion Additional Information
MSO 421 AGILE Luders Marine 22FEB54 19NOV55 21JUN56 28JUL72 decomm; 01NOV79 disposed - Scrapped by Union Minerals & Alloy Corp., N.Y.,N.Y. $25,000. Removal date: 18OCT79
Construction Co., Stamford, Connecticut
MSO 422 AGRESSIVE Luders Marine 25MAY51 04OCT52 25NOV53 02JUL71 decomm; 01MAY80 disposed (sold to Rbt.E. Williams, Torrance, Calif $44,000.) Removal date: 23APR80
MSO 423 AVENGE Luders Marine 01AUG51 15MAR53 13MAY54 6OCT69 lost to shipyard fire; 31JAN70 decomm; Scrapped by Steve B. Clemens, Miami Shores, FL $2,789. Removal date: 01MAR71
MSO 424 BOLD Norfolk Navy SY 12DEC51 14MAR53 25SEP53 2JUL71 decomm; 1JUN81 disposed
MSO 425 BULWARK Norfolk Navy SY 12DEC51 14MAR53 12NOV53 2JUL71 decomm; 1MAY80 disposed
MSO 426 CONFLICT Fulton Shipyard, Antioch, CA 13AUG51 16DEC54 23MAR54 9JUN72 decomm; 12JAN73 disposed
MSO 427 CONSTANT Fulton SY 16AUG51 14FEB52 8SEP54 30SEP92 decomm; 1APR01 disposed
MSO 428 DASH 20SEP52 14AUG53 1OCT82 decomm.
MSO 429 DETECTOR 5DEC52 26JAN54 1OCT82 decomm.
MSO 430 DIRECT 27MAY53 9JUL54 1OCT82 decomm.
MSO 431 DOMINANT 5NOV53 8NOV54 1OCT82 decomm.
MSO 432 DYNAMIC 17DEC52 1JUL71 transferred to Spain
MSO 433 ENGAGE Colberg Boat Wks 7NOV51 18JUN53 29JUN54 stricken before 92
(ex-Elusive)
MSO 434 EMBATTLE 27AUG53 16NOV54 15MAY70 decomm; transferred to Peru
MSO 435 ENDURANCE 9AUG52 19MAY54 1JUL72 decomm.
MSO 436 ENERGY 13FEB53 16JUL54 5JUL72 transferred to the Philippines
MSO 437 ENHANCE Martinlock SB, San Diego 12JUL52 11OCT52 16APR55 stricken before 92
MSO 438 ESTEEM Martinlock SB, San Diego 1SEP52 20DEC52 10SEP55 stricken before 92
MSO 439 EXCEL Higgins, New Orleans 4FEB53 25SEP53 24FEB55 stricken before 93
MSO 440 EXPLOIT Higgins, New Orleans 28DEC51 10APR53 31MAR54 27JUL88 decomm.
MSO 441 EXULTANT Higgins, New Orleans 22MAY52 6JUN53 22JUN54 sked for decomm by 7/94
MSO 442 FEARLESS Higgins, New Orleans 23JUL52 17JUL53 22SEP54 stricken before 92
MSO 443 FIDELITY Higgins, New Orleans 15DEC52 21AUG53 19JAN55 stricken before 92
MSO 444 FIRM 15APR53 12OCT54 5JUL72 transferred to the Philippines
MSO 445 FORCE 26JUN53 4JAN55 24APR73 lost to fire
MSO 446 FORTIFY Seattle, SB & DD 30NOV51 14FEB53 16JUL54 19NOV88 decomm.
MSO 447 GUIDE 17APR54 71 transferred to Spain
MSO 448 ILLUSIVE Martinlock SB, San Diego 23OCT51 12JUL52 14NOV53 stricken before 92
MSO 449 IMPERVIOUS Martinlock SB, San Diego 18NOV51 29AUG52 15JUL54 stricken before 92
MSO 450 MDAP built for France
MSO 451 MDAP built for France; subsequently transferred to Uruguay (1970)
MSO 452 MDAP built for France
MSO 453 MDAP built for France
MSO 454 MDAP built for France
MSO 455 IMPLICIT Wilmington Boat Wks. 29OCT51 1AUG53 10MAR54 8JUL89 decomm.
MSO 456 INFLICT Wilmington Boat Wks. 29OCT51 6OCT53 11MAY54 stricken before 92
MSO 457 LOYALTY 22NOV53 11JUN54 1JUL72 decomm.
MSO 458 LUCID 14NOV53 4MAY55 stricken before 73
MSO 459 NIMBLE 6AUG54 11MAY55 stricken before 73
MSO 460 NOTABLE 15OCT54 1FEB71 decomm.
MSO 461 OBSERVER 19OCT54 31AUG55 stricken before 73
MSO 462 PINNACLE 3JAN55 21OCT55 stricken before 73
MSO 463 PIVOT 9JAN54 1JUL71 transferred to Spain
MSO 464 PLUCK Wilmington Boat Wks. 31MAR52 6FEB54 11AUG54 23DEC88 decomm.
MSO 465 PRESTIGE 30APR54 23AUG58 stranded, Inland Sea, total loss
MSO 466 PRIME 27MAY54 11OCT54 stricken before 73; transferred to Thailand
MSO 467 REAPER 25JUN54 10NOV54 15MAY70 decomm; transferred to Thailand
MSO 468 RIVAL 15AUG54 1FEB71 decomm.
MSO 469 SAGACITY 20FEB54 1OCT70 lost to grounding
MSO 470 SALUTE 14AUG54 1FEB71 decomm.
MSO 471 SKILL 17AUG53 23APR55 7NOV55 stricken before 73
MSO 472 VALOR 13MAY53 1FEB71 decomm.
MSO 473 VIGOR 24JUN53 8NOV54 5APR72 transferred to Spain
MSO 474 VITAL 12AUG54 9JUN55 stricken before 73
MSO 475 MDAP built for France
MSO 476 MDAP built for France
MSO 477 MDAP built for France
MSO 478 MDAP built for Portugal
MSO 479 MDAP built for Portugal
MSO 480 MDAP built for the Netherlands
MSO 481 MDAP built for the Netherlands
MSO 482 MDAP built for the Netherlands
MSO 483 MDAP built for the Netherlands
MSO 484 MDAP built for the Netherlands
MSO 485 MDAP built for the Netherlands
MSO 486 MDAP built for Portugal
MS0 487 MDAP built for Portugal
MSO 488 CONQUEST J. M. Martinac 26MAR53 20MAY54 20JUL55 sked for decomm by 7/94
MSO 489 GALLANT J. M. Martinac 21MAY53 4JUN54 14SEP55 stricken before 93
MSO 490 LEADER J. M. Martinac 22SEP53 15SEP54 16NOV55 stricken before 92
MSO 491 PERSISTANT 17JUN54 23APR55 1JUL71 transferred to Spain
MSO 492 PLEDGE J. M. Martinac 24JUN54 20JUL55 20APR56 stricken before 93
MSO 493 STALWART 22JUN54 3DEC55 1MAR67 capsized & sunk after fire, San Juan
MSO 494 STURDY 15OCT54 28JAN56 23OCT57 stricken before 73
MSO 495 SWERVE 20DEC54 1NOV55 27JUL57 stricken before 73
MSO 496 VENTURE 11JAN55 27NOV56 3FEB58 stricken before 73
MSO 497 cancelled prior to being built
MSO 498 MDAP built for Norway; subsequently transferred to Belgium
MSO 499 MDAP built for Norway; subsequently transferred to Belgium
MSO 500 MDAP built for France
MSO 501 MDAP built for France
MSO 502 MDAP built for France
MSO 503 MDAP built for Belgium
MSO 504 MDAP built for Belgium
MSO 505 MDAP built for France
MSO 506 MDAP built for Italy 13NOV54 56
MSO 507 MDAP built for Italy 19FEB55 56
«» 11 ACME class oceangoing minesweepers
MSO 508 ACME Frank L. Sample, Jr. Inc, Boothbay Harbor, Maine 23JUN55 27SEP56 73 decomm. MSO 509 ADROIT Frank Sample Inc, Boothbay Harbor 20AUG55 4MAR57 stricken before 93 MSO 510 ADVANCE Frank Sample Inc, Boothbay Harbor 12JUL57 16JUN58 73 decomm. MSO 511 AFFRAY Frank Sample Inc, Boothbay Harbor 18DEC56 8DEC58 18JUL89 decomm. MSO 512 MDAP built for France MSO 513 MDAP built for France MSO 514 MDAP built for France MSO 515 MDAP built for Belgium MSO 516 MDAP built for Belgium MSO 517 MDAP built for Italy MSO 518 MDAP built for Italy
«» 4 ABILITY class oceangoing minesweepers
MSO 519 ABILITY Petersen Builders Inc., Sturgeon Bay 5MAR56 29DEC56 14AUG58 1FEB71 decomm. MSO 520 ALACRITY Petersen SB, Sturgeon Bay 3MAY56 8JUN57 2OCT58 reclassified as research ship, AGS-520 MSO 521 ASSURANCE Petersen SB, Sturgeon Bay 28JUN57 31AUG57 21NOV58 reclassified as research ship, AGS-521 MSO 522 MDAP built for Belgium Petersen SB, Sturgeon Bay 58 12-60
The names of the following foreign service ships of this class are as follows:
French Navy: Adelaide Class
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv. Dispostion
Royal Netherlands Navy: Adelaide Class
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv. Dispostion
Portugese Navy: Adelaide Class
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv. Dispostion
Belgian Navy: Adelaide Class
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv. Dispostion
Norwegian Navy: Adelaide Class
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv. Dispostion
Italian Navy: Adelaide Class
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv. Dispostion
Spanish Navy: Santa María Class
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv. Dispostion
Taiwanese Navy: Cheng Kung Class
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv. Dispostion
Peruvian Navy: Adelaide Class
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv. Dispostion
Philippine Navy: Adelaide Class
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv. Dispostion
Royal Thai Navy: Adelaide Class
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv. Dispostion
Uruguayan Navy: Adelaide Class
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv. Dispostion
REMARKS: 100 of these vessels were originally built, cost $3.5 million in 1951. Designated as Wooden Minesweepers [AM], they were reclassifed to Minesweeper, Ocean (non-magnetic) in Feb. 1955. Wooden construction; nonmagnetic, stainless-steel machinery. Hoist machinery for the SQQ-14 minehunting sonar occupies the position of the former 40-mm AA gun. Hull nos. 450-454, 475-487, 498-507, 512-518 and 522 were built in the U.S. under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program; no U.S. names were allocated. 15 were transferred to France, 6 to the Netherlands, 4 to Portugal, 5 to Belgium, 2 to Norway, and 4 to Italy. Many of these ships have been transferred to other navies after having been paid off by their original service.
428,429,430,431 had 2 General Motors diesels at 1520 hp; 496, at 1,200 hp; 508-511 fitted with 2 GM diesels at 2,800 hp; 519-522 at 2,700 hp. 508-511, 519-521 had 2 diesels (Packard or GM) at 2,800/2,700 hp and were fitted out as division flagships.
Modernization commenced in 1968, the plan calling for all of the ABILITY class, ACME class and AGILE class being re-engined with four Waukesha diesels, SQQ-14 minehunting sonar to replace the UQS-1 and the 40 mm. gun and built up bridge structure for command and control. Thirteen of the AGILE class (433, 437-438, 441-443, 445-446, 448-449, 456, 488 and 490) were re-engined with Waukesha diesels; the remainder of the survivors (MSO 427, 439, 440, 455, 464, 489, and 492) retained Packard lD1700 diesels, totaling 2,280 hp; those ships displace 684 tons light, 762 full load. All the survivors were given very thorough rehabilitations during the early to mid-1970s, receiving semi-enclosed bridges, and an enlarged superstructures abaft the bridge, SQQ-14 minehunting sonars, new communications gear, and upgraded accommodations. The SPS-53 radars were eventually replaced by SPS-64(V)9. Because of costs, the modernization plans were cancelled in 1970 for the ABILITY and AGILE class.
Following construction of MSO-522 in 1960, more were planned, but never built in 1964 (523-526), in 1967 (523-531), and in 1971 (523-538) before plans changed to build the MCM class in 1979. The keel for MCM-1 was laid in 1983 and she was placed in commission in 1985.
In 1975 MSO 440 was equipped with the prototype SSN-2 precise-navigation system for the new MCM class, and in 1980 MSO 443 received the prototype SQQ-30 sonar, being developed for the MCM 1 class.
All MSO-class minesweepers have left service with the U.S. Navy, though a number remain in service in foreign navies.
Details from 102 Minesweepers:
History Within five years of the end of the Second World War, the U.S. Navy was designing a new generation of minesweepers. Far from springing from the unhappy experience of the North Korean mining at Wonsan, as is often claimed, the program was in fact well underway before the outbreak of the Korean War and was developed in reponse to new technology developed during the Second World War.
The new sweeper would be the largest all-wood warship in the U.S. Navy. The hull of the minesweepre was designed by Philip L. Rhodes (1895-1974). The hull form was adapted from the WW2 YMS and incorporated new construction techniques that BuShips eventually claimed saved about 50 percent of hull weight. The new type of hull construction proved so strong that the last ships of this basic design were lengthened from 171 feet to 190 feet. The really radical step was to add a variable degaussing system which could compensate automatically for variations in the ships position in the earth’s magnetic field due to roll and pitch as well as to course changes and were built with internal machinery and components of non-ferrous or non-magnetic materials for minimum magnetic signature. The sweeper was considered among the most complex and innovative ships in the Navy, only matched in cost per ton by submarines.
102 ships were authorized and constructed between 1951-58. These new ships were first designated as Minesweepers (AM); they were later reclassified on February 7, 1955 as Minesweeper, Ocean (MSO). The cost was $3.5 million in 1951 [$1.6-$6.3 million 1951-1960]. They were capable of sweeping for moored and bottom contact, magnetic and acoustic mines.
A new class of 16 Ocean Minesweepers was later proposed, MSO 523 through MSO 538, (Ship Characteristics Board No. 501) combining the capabilities of Ocean Minesweepers (MSO) and Coastal Minehunters (MHC) using Shadowgraph/Sea Nettle and SQQ-14 sonar. They were to be similar in design to the ABILITY class but larger, with 200 feet overall length, 1,000 tons full load displacement, wooden hulls and Diesel main engines. Four ships authorized in the Fiscal Year 1964 shipbuilding program, five in FY 1967, and seven in FY 1968. The estimated cost per ship was $8.7 million. They were to be built in FY 68 by Stowman Shipbuilding Corp., but were cancelled. However the money appropriated for their construction was reallocated and rescinded by Congress in FY 69 because of difficulties encountered in design and contracting procedures. The Department of Defense planned to request funding for the 16 minesweepers in the FY 1971 through 1973 shipbuilding programs. The estimated cost per ship was increased to $9.0 million. The program was ended about 1971 when Admiral Elmo Zumwalt decided that future assault sweeps would be conducted by helicopters.
During June of 1979, several alternative program approaches were being evaluated in replacing the aging MSO 422/508 ocean minesweeper fleet. The Chief of Naval Operations approved the basic MSO 523 ship design as a candidate for the new Mine Countermeasures (MCM 1) class ship and directed that variations of the MSO 523 design be investigated. In consideration of operational and mission requirements, the most appropriate alternative was selected in countering the open ocean mine threat. This "trade off" analysis, completed during March of 1980, was in lieu of a formal preliminary design effort. MSO class ships were never built and were superseded by new designs, MCM, later the (unsuccessful) MSH,and MHC classes. The Navy tried to develop an air-cushion mine hunter, "Cardinal" class (MSH) to supplement the AVENGER (MCM) class in the early 1980's. They were not successful, and thus the OSPREY class (MHC) was developed. The MCM contract design was completed in February 1982, and the lead ship (AVENGER MCM 1) construction contract was awarded in June 1982.
During the 1987-88 Operation "Earnest Will" (the escort of the reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers), six active and reserve MSO's deployed to the Persian Gulf. Three West Coast MSO's: USS ENHANCE (MSO-437), USS CONQUEST (MSO-488), and USS ESTEEM (MSO-438), and three East Coast MSOs : USS INFLICT (MSO-456), USS FEARLESS (MSO-442), and USS ILLUSIVE (MSO-448). The Belgium Navy participated with two MSO's: BREYDEL M906 (hull 504) and BOVESSE M909 (hull 516). Both ships and crews performed extremely well in very demanding conditions, clearing hundreds of mines from the international waterway.
During the Cold War the U.S. mine warfare concept was designed around a European war scenario which relied on North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies to participate substantially in mine warfare operations. The Navy's MCM capabilities in the Persian Gulf War (1990-91) included the surface mine countermeasures capabilities of three 30-year-old minesweepers: USS IMPERVIOUS (MSO-449), USS LEADER (MSO-490), and USS ADROIT (MSO-509).
These ships served our country well for over 41 years and over 50,000 "Iron Men" proudly served until the last one was decommissioned in 1994. They participated in almost every conflict that occurred during those years including the Lebanon Crisis, the Naval Quarantine of Cuba in 1962, the Vietnam War (Operation "Market Time" and Operation "End Sweep"), the 1980's Iran-Iraq War (Operation "Earnest Will"), and the 1991-92 Persian Gulf War (Operations "Desert Shield" and "Desert Storm"). These ships and their crews earned numerous awards and campaign participitation awards and ought to be remembered in the same fashion as other ships of the Navy.
Ship Classes There were twelve ship classes: eleven listed in DANFS and Jane's added the Berneval class that DANFS did not list
As originally built, all had Diesel engines; all were outfitted with one 40 mm, single cannon and two .50 cal machine guns.
(For the following lines, read (quantity) CLASS NAME, Hull Number(s), Length Overall, Extreme Beam, Displacement, Maximum Draft, Designed Accommodations: Officer and Enlisted, Design speed, Engines, Designed Shaft Horsepower.) (1) AGILE Class, 421, 172 ft, 35 ft, 755 tons, 10 ft, 8 and 70, 14 knots, Packard, 3040 SHP (53) AGGRESSIVE Class, 422-427,432-449,455-474,488-496, 172 ft, 35 ft, 775 tons, 10 ft, 5 and 65, 14 knots, Packard, 2280 SHP (4) DASH Class, 428-431, 172 ft, 35 ft, 775 tons, 10 ft, 8 and 70, 14 knots, General Motors, 1520 SHP (5) AM 450 Class, France, 450-454, 171 ft, 35 ft, 750 tons, 10 ft 4 in, 15 knots, General Motors, 1600 SHP (10) BERNEVAL Class (per Janes), France, 475-477, 500-502, 505, 512-514, 171 ft, 35 ft, 700 tons, 10 ft 6 in, 13½ knots, General Motors, 1600 SHP (4) AM 478 Class, Portugal, 478-479,486-487, 172 ft, 35 ft, 665 tons, 10 ft, General Motors, 1600 SHP (6) AM 480 Class, Netherlands, 480-485, 172 ft, 36 ft, 735 tons, 10 ft, 15½ knots, General Motors, 1600 SHP (2) AM 498 Class, Norway, 498-499, 171 ft, 35 ft, 750 tons, 11 ft, 15½ knots, General Motors, 1600 SHP (5)AM 503 Class, Belgium, 503-504,515-516,522, 172 ft 5in, 35 ft, 780 tons, 11 ft, 14 knots, General Motors, 1600 SHP (4) AM 506 Class, Italy, 506-507,517-518, 173 ft, 35 ft, 665 tons, 10 ft, 15 knots, General Motors, 1600 SHP The following also had Divisional Flag Facilities: (4) ACME Class, 508-511, 173 ft, 36 ft, 750 tons, 14 ft, 8 and 70, 14 knots, Packard, 2280 SHP (3) ABILITY Class, 519-521, 190 ft, 36 ft, 934 tons, 12 ft, 8 and 75, 15 knots, General Motors, 2700 SHP
«» Modernization Plan and Details
MSO Converted At Awarded Date Started Decommissioned Re-Commissioned
423 Bethlehem Steel Corp. 07MAY68 31AUG68 unknown 06OCT69 caught fire and was later stricken
Baltimore, Maryland
433 Dillingham Shipyard 15MAY68 31OCT68 Stayed in Commission 14AUG70
Honolulu, Hawaii
437 Harbor Boat Building 30JUN70 30OCT70 30OCT70 27AUG71
438 Harbor Boat Building 30JUN70 30SEP70 30SEP70 01AUG71
441 Bethlehem Steel Corp. 07MAY68 31AUG68 Stayed in commission 08JUN70
442 Bethlehem Steel Corp. 07MAY68 30SEP68 Stayed in commission 19OCT70
443 Bethlehem Steel Corp. 07MAY68 30SEP68 Stayed in commission 09DEC70
445 Dillingham Shipyard 15MAY68 31DEC68 Stayed in commission 07APR71
446 Dillingham Shipyard 15MAY68 03OCT68 Stayed in commission 28SEP70
448 Harbor Boat Building 30JUN70 30NOV70 30NOV70 unknown
449 Dillingham Shipyard 15MAY68 30NOV68 Stayed in commission 04DEC71
456 Dillingham Shipyard 15MAY68 30NOV68 Stayed in commission 10FEB71
457 Replaced by 445, JAN69
460 14MAY70 Cancelled 16OCT70 and the hulk was scrapped
468 10JUN70 Cancelled 16OCT70 and the hulk was scrapped
470 14MAY70 Cancelled 16OCT70 and the hulk was scrapped
472 16JUL70 Cancelled 16OCT70 and the hulk was scrapped
488 Harbor Boat Building 30JUN70 30OCT70 30OCT70 21OCT71
490 Harbor Boat Building 30JUN70 30NOV70 30NOV70 11FEB72
519 JUN70 Cancelled 16OCT70 and the hulk was scrapped
Modernization As an interim step to the new MSO's proposed above, all ocean minesweepers in commission during the mid-1960's were to have been modernized. In FY 1968 a program was begun to modernize the existing MSO's (Ships Characteristics Board No. 502) with the first starting 8-31AUG68 (MSO 423 and MSO 441).
The modernization provided improvements in mine detection; changes in armament; new engines with four Waukesha Motors Co. diesel engines installed to replace the original Packard engines in some of the ships, plus two or three Diesel electric generators for minesweeping gear; advanced communications equipment fitted; and habitability improved by retrofitting with chill water air conditioning. The bridge structure in modernized ships was extended around the mast and aft to funnel. Crew complement in the modernized ships was 6 officers and 70 enlisted men.
From an examination of the personnel diary's of MSO 437 thru MSO 490 it appears that most of the ships stayed in commission, with reduced crew size during modernization.
Mine detection and classification abilities were provided in the form of an AN/SQQ-14 (nicknamed "Squeaky 14") sonar made by General Electric. Ships which were fitted with AN/SQQ-14 sonars had a massive external hoist forward of the bridge, in place of the single 40mm gun formerly mounted on the forecastle. Because of the space required for the new sonar hoist mechanism armaments were changed: some ships had a single 20mm gun forward, while others have two .50 Caliber machine guns amidships. Some ships modernized after 1970 had all guns removed (MSO 437,439,490).
The estimated cost and schedule per ship was $5 million and ten months in the shipyard. However, some of the early modernizations took as long as 26 months which, coupled with changes in mine countermeasure techniques and with the shift of emphasis to minesweeping helicopters, led to cancellation of the entire modernization program after only 13 ships had been fully modernized.
Not all of the MSO then in service were modernized. Some MSO's received AN/SQQ-14 sonar but not full modernization. Modernization of five (MSO 460,468,470,472,and 519) was cancelled 16OCT1970 and their hulks were scrapped. While in the shipyard undergoing modernization, MSO 423 caught fire on 6OCT1969 and was later stricken.
Ships Fully Modernized (SCB# 502): MSO 433, 437, 438, 441, 442, 443, 445, 446, 448, 449, 456, 488, 490.
Ships Partially Modernized (SCB# 502): MSO 427, 428, 429, 431, 432, 435, 439, 440, 455, 458, 463, 464, 489, 491, 492, 496, 508, 509, 510, 511.
[Data in this section is combined from Combat Fleets of the World, 1984/85 ed. by Jean Labayle Couhat, English translation by A.D. Baker II (© 1984
by United States Naval Institute ISBN 0-87021-136-6), Jane's Fighting Ships, annual editions 1953-1995, (© by
Jane's Information Group Limited), and 102
Minesweepers (© 2002-2006 by Dick Lewis).]
Go back to the story.
GUIDED-MISSILE FRIGATES
«» 33 ( + 18) Oliver Hazard Perry class (SCN 207/2081 type)
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv. FFG 7 OLIVER HAZARD PERRY Bath Iron Works 6DEC75 9-25-76 30NOV77 FFG 8 McINERNEY Bath Iron Works 16JAN78 4NOV78 15DEC79 FFG 9 WADSWORTH Todd, San Pedro 13JUL77 29JUL78 28FEB80 FFG 10 DUNCAN Todd, Seattle 29APR77 1MAR78 24MAY80 FFG 11 CLARK Bath Iron Works 17JUL78 24MAR79 17MAY80 FFG 12 GEORGE PHILIP Todd, San Pedro 14DEC77 16DEC78 18NOV80 FFG 13 SAMUEL ELIOT MORISON Bath Iron Works 4DEC78 14JUL79 11OCT80 FFG 14 SIDES Todd, San Pedro 7AUG78 19MAY79 30MAY81 FFG 15 ESTOCIN Bath Iron Works 2APR79 3NOV79 10JAN81 FFG 16 CLIFTON SPRAGUE Bath Iron Works 30JUL79 16FEB80 21MAR81 FFG 19 JOHN A. MOORE Todd, San Pedro 19DEC78 20OCT79 14NOV81 FFG 20 ANTRIM Todd, Seattle 21JUN78 27MAR79 26SEP81 FFG 21 FLATLEY Bath Iron Works 13NOV79 15MAY80 20JUN81 FFG 22 FAHRION Todd, Seattle 1DEC78 24AUG79 16JAN82 FFG 23 LEWIS B. PULLER Todd, San Pedro 23MAY79 15MAR80 17APR82 FFG 24 JACK WILLIAMS Bath Iron Works 26FEB80 30AUG80 19SEP81 FFG 25 COPELAND Todd, San Pedro 24OCT79 26JUL80 7AUG82 FFG 26 GALLERY Bath Iron Works 17MAY80 20DEC80 5DEC81 FFG 27 MAHLON S. TISDALE Todd, San Pedro 19MAR80 7FEB81 13NOV82 FFG 28 BOONE Todd, Seattle 27MAR79 16JAN80 15MAY82 FFG 29 STEPHEN W. GROVES Bath Iron Works 16SEP80 4APR81 17APR82 FFG 30 REID Todd, San Pedro 8OCT80 27JUN81 19FEB83 FFG 31 STARK Todd, Seattle 24AUG79 30MAY80 23OCT82 FFG 32 JOHN L. HALL Bath Iron Works 5JAN81 24JUL81 26JUN82 FFG 33 JARRETT Todd, San Pedro 11FEB81 17OCT81 2JUL83 FFG 34 AUBREY FITCH Bath Iron Works 10APR81 17OCT81 9OCT82 FFG 36 UNDERWOOD Bath Iron Works 30JUL81 6FEB89 29JAN83 FFG 37 CROMMELIN Todd, Seattle 30MAY80 1JUL81 18JUN83 FFG 38 CURTS Todd, San Pedro 1JUL81 6MAR82 8OCT83 FFG 39 DOYLE Bath Iron Works 16NOV81 22MAY82 21MAY83 FFG 40 HALYBURTON Todd, Seattle 26SEP80 13OCT81 7JAN84 FFG 41 MCCLUSKEY Todd, San Pedro 21OCT81 18SEP82 10DEC83 FFG 42 KLAKRING Bath Iron Works 19FEB89 18SEP82 20AUG83 FFG 43 THACH Todd, San Pedro 6MAR82 18DEC82 3-84 FFG 45 DE WERT Bath Iron Works 14JUN82 18DEC82 19NOV83 FFG 46 RENTZ Todd, San Pedro 18SEP82 16JUL83 6-84 FFG 47 NICHOLAS Bath Iron Works 27SEP82 23APR83 10MAR84 FFG 48 VANDERGRIFT Todd, Seattle 13OCT81 15OCT82 11SEP84 FFG 49 ROBERT E. BRADLEY Bath Iron Works 28DEC82 13AUG83 11AUG84** FFG 50 TAYLOR Bath Iron Works 5MAY83 5NOV83 1DEC84** FFG 51 GARY Todd, San Pedro 18DEC82 19NOV83**17NOV84** FFG 52 CARR Todd, Seattle 26MAR82 26FEB83** 27JUL85** FFG 53 HAWES Bath Iron Works 22AUG83 18FEB84** 9FEB85** FFG 54 FORD Todd, San Pedro 16JUL83 23JUN84** 29JUN85** FFG 65 ELROD Bath Iron Works 21NOV83** 12MAY84** 18MAY85** FFG 56 SIMPSON Bath Iron Works 27FEB84** 21AUG84** 10AUG85** FFG 57 REUBEN JAMES Todd, San Pedro 19NOV83** 8FEB85** 22MAR86** FFG 58 SAMUEL B. ROBERTS Bath Iron Works 21MAY84** 8DEC84** 12APR86** FFG 59 KAUFFMAN** Bath Iron Works 8APR85** 29MAR86** 27FEB87** FFG 60 RODNEY M. DAVIS Todd, San Pedro 8FEB85** 11JAN86** 9MAY87** FFG 61 INGRAHAM** Todd, San Pedro** 30MAR87** 25JUN88** 5AUG89**
REMARKS: Although these ships were intended to operate the LAMPS-III ASW helicopter, the first twenty-six of them (less FFG 8) lack the equipment necessary to handle them and will retain LAMPS-I. Beginning with the FY 73 ships (FFG 36 and later), helicopter support equipment is aboard on completion; fin stabilizers, RAST (Recovery Assistance, Securing, and Traversing Ssytem, not fitted as completed until FFG 50), and other systems. The RAST system permits helicopter Launch and recovery with the ship rolling through 28 degrees and pitching 5 degrees. The equipment was first installed in McInerney FFG 8), which was reconstructed, completing 12FEB81 at Bath Iron Works, to act as LAMPS-III/SH-60B Sea Hawk helicopter trials ship; the stern was lengthened by 2.9 m (the extension being slightly lower than the flight deck, to accomodate mooring equipment by changing the rake of the stern. FFG 26 conducted fin stabilizer trials in 1982. Beginning with FFG 36, SQR-18A TACTASS towed passive hydrophone arrays will be aboard ships when the ships complete; earlier units may be backfitted; SQR-19 was originally planned. The Mk 15 CIWS (Close-In Weapon System) 20-mm Vulcan/Phalanx will be backfitted into FFG 7-26 in 1986-88. Two Mk 24 optical target designators (mounted in tubs atop the pilothouse) were not fitted to the ships as completed until FFG 27 and have been backfitted in the earlier ships. FFG7 was originally numbered PF 109. Speed on one turbine is 25 knots; the auxiliary power system uses two retractable pods located well forward and can drive the ships at up to 6 knots. The Mk 92 Mod. 4 fire-control system controls missile- and 76-mm gun fire; it uses a STIR (modified SPG-60) antenna and a U.S.-built version of the Signaal Apparaaten WM-28 radar forward, and can track four separate targets. The Mk 92 system is programmed for three stages of improvement; the first, given trials in FFG 29 in 1983, will be backfitted to all by 10-84 as the "Near-Term Improvement," along with Standard SM-1 MR Block 6 missiles. The Mk 75 gun is a license-built version of the OTO Melara Compact. A Mk 13 weapons-direction system is fitted. The only ship launched ASW ordnance is the Mk 46 torpedoes in the two triple torpedo tubes. These ships are particularly well protected against splinter and fragmentation damage, with 3/4-inch aluminum-alloy armor over magazine spaces, 5/8-in steel over the main engine-control room, and 3/4-inch Kevlar plastic armor over vital electronics and command spaces.
Original complement was planned at 17 officers, 167 men, which was found to be too many officers but far too few enlisted men to run and maintain the ships. Therefore, FFG 19 and up are fitted with 30 additional enlisted bunks, with the others to be backfitted.
FFG 17, 18, 35, and 44 of this class were built by Todd, Seattle, for Australia, which plans to build up to 6 more in-country. Spain is building five.
The Navy had hoped to phase out construction of this class with the FY 83 ships, FFG 59 and 60, but Congress authorized (but did not fully fund) FFG 61 in FY 84; this ship is mandated to have the as yet unbuilt and untested Sperry Phase-III update to the Mk 92 f.c.s., adding four fixed phased-array radar panels (two facing the after quadrants on a mast platform and two covering the forward quadrants atop the bridge). Since the original Mk 92 arrays and the SPS-49 are to be retained, the design would appear to be grossly overloaded.
Already possessing a "surplus" of frigates, the U. S. Navy has no immediate plans for new construction in this category.
Additionally, the names of the following foreign service ships of this
class are as follows:
Royal Australian Navy: Adelaide Class
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv. FFG 01 HMAS ADELAIDE (ex-FFG-17) Todd, San Pedro ........ ........ ........ FFG 02 HMAS CANBERRA (ex-FFG-18) Bath Iron Works ........ ........ ........ FFG 03 HMAS SIDNEY (ex-FFG-35) Bath Iron Works ........ ........ ........ FFG 04 HMAS DARWIN (ex-FFG-44) Todd, San Pedro ........ ........ ........ FFG 05 HMAS MELBOURNE (license built) ........ ........ ........ FFG 06 HMAS NEWCASTLE (license bulit) ........ ........ ........
Spanish Navy: Santa María Class (all license built in Spain)
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv.
F 81 SN SANTA MARIA Bazan, Ferrol (Spain) 23MAY82 24NOV84 12OCT86
F 82 SN VICTORIA Bazan, Ferrol (Spain) 16AUG83 23JUL86 11NOV87
F 83 SN NUMANCIA Bazan, Ferrol (Spain) 08JAN86 30JAN87 08NOV88
F 84 SN REINA SOFIA Bazan, Ferrol (Spain) 12DEC87 19JUL89 18OCT90
(ex-America)
F 85 SN NAVARRA Bazan, Ferrol (Spain) 15APR91 23OCT92 30MAY94
F 86 SN CANARIAS Bazan, Ferrol (Spain) 15APR92 21JUN93 14DEC94
Notes: The original plan to build four more has been shelved and the last two have been delayed by a shortage of funds. Based on the US FFG 7 Oliver Perry class although broader in the beam and therefore able to carry more topweight. Fin stabilisers fitted. RAST helicopter handling system. Navarra and Canarias have an indigenous combat system thereby increasing national inputs to 75 per cent. They also have improved fire control system.
Taiwanese Navy: Cheng Kung Class (all license built in Taiwan)
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv. F 1101 CHENG KUNG China SB Corp (Kaohsiung) 07JAN90 05OCT91 07MAR93 F 1103 CHENG HO China SB Corp (Kaohsiung) 21DEC90 15OCT92 28MAR94 F 1105 CHI KUANG China SB Corp (Kaohsiung) 04OCT91 27SEP93 MAY95 F 1106 YUEH FEI China SB Corp (Kaohsiung) 05SEP92 26AUG94 FEB96 F 1107 TZU-I China SB Corp (Kaohsiung) 07AUG94 JUL95 JAN97 F 1108 PAN CHAO China SB Corp (Kaohsiung) JAN95 DEC95 DEC97 F 1109 CHANG CHIEN China SB Corp (Kaohsiung) DEC95 NOV96 NOV98
Notes: The first seven of the class are knowns as Flight I. Named after Chinese generals and warriors. Similar to the USS Ingraham. RAST helicopter hauldown. The area between the mast had to be strengthened to take teh Hsiung Feng II missles.
[Items marked ** above have been updated from Combat
Fleets by reference to Jane's Fighting Ships, 1995-96 edition,
ed. by Captain Richard Sharpe OBE RN (© 1995 by Jane's
Information Group Limited ISBN 0-7106-1254-0).]
Go back to the story.
GUIDED-MISSILE DESTROYERS
«» 23 Charles F. Adams class (SCB 155 type) (modified ships*)
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv.
DDG 2 CHARLES F. ADAMS Bath Iron Works 16JUN58 8SEP59 10SEP60
DDG 3 JOHN KING Bath Iron Works 25AUG58 30JAN60 4FEB61
DDG 4 LAWRENCE New York SB 27OCT58 27FEB60 6JAN62
DDG 5 CLAUDE V. New York SB 18MAY59 16APR60 5MAY62
RICKETTS (ex-Biddle)
DDG 6 BARNEY New York SB 18AUG59 10DEC60 11AUG62
DDG 7 HENTRY B. WILSON Defoe SB 28FEB58 22APR59 17DEC60
DDG 8 LYNDE MCCORMICK Defoe SB 4APR58 9SEP60 3JUN61
DDG 9 TOWERS Todd, Seattle 1APR58 23APR59 24JUN61
DDG 10 SAMPSON Bath Iron Works 2MAR59 9SEP60 24JUN61
DDG 11 SELLERS Bath Iron Works 3AUG59 9SEP60 28OCT61
DDG 12 ROBISON Defoe SB 23APR59 27APR60 9DEC61
DDG 13 HOEL Defoe SB 1JUN59 4AUG60 16JUN62
DDG 14 BUCHANAN Todd, Seattle 23APR59 11MAY60 7FEB62
DDG 15 BERKELEY New York SB 1JUN60 29JUL61 15DEC62
DDG 16 JOSEPH STRAUSS New York SB 27DEC60 9DEC61 20APR63
DDG 17 CONYNGHAM New York SB 1MAY61 19MAY62 13JUL63
DDG 18 SEMMES Avondale SY 18AUG60 20MAY61 10DEC62
DDG 19 TATTNALL* Avondale SY 14NOV60 26AUG61 13APR63
DDG 20 GOLDSBOROUGH* Puget Sound SB & DD 3JAN61 15DEC61 9NOV63
DDG 21 COCHRANE Puget Sound SB & DD 31JUL61 18JUL62 21MAR64
DDG 22 BENJAMIN Puget Sound SB & DD 11JUN62 8JAN63 12SEP64
STODDERT*
DDG 23 RICHARD E. BYRD Todd, Seattle 12APR61 6FEB62 7MAR64
DDG 24 WADDELL Todd, Seattle 6FEB62 26FEB63 28AUG64
REMARKS: Sisters DDG 25, DDG 26, and DDG 27, built at the Defoe Shipbuilding Company, Bay City, Michigan, were ordered by Australia; DDG 28, DDG 29, and DDG 30 were built at Bath Iron Works for the West German Navy. Ships with bowmounted sonars have stem-mounted anchors. Most have been backfitted with an ASROC ASW missile reload magazine (with 4 missiles) beside the forward stack, to starboard. It was planned to give these ships a badly needed modernization, beginning with DDG 3 under FY 80. Costs rose enormously, and the program was cut to ten, permitting them to operate for another fifteen to twenty years. Congressional reluctance to spend $221 million per ship (equal to the cost of a new FFG 7 class frigate) forced cancellation of even the reduced program.
The full modernization program has been cut to only three ships, DDG 19, 20, and 22. DDG 19 underwent conversion 31AUG81 to 28NOV82 at Philadelphia; DDG 20 and 22 converting at Pearl Harbor 4-83 to 7-84 and 4-84 to 8-85. Changes include: replacement of the Mk 68 GFCS with Mk 86 Mod. 8 (with 1/SPQ-9A and 1/SPG-GO radar); SLQ-32(V)2, SLQ-20, and Mk 36 SRBOC replacing the original suite; the original missile f.c.s. replaced by Mk 74 Mod. 4, with the Weapons Direction System Mk 13 Mod. 4 replacing the original Mk 4; the addition of the SYS-1 data system with UYA-4 NTDS; upgrading the search radar suite to: 1/LN-66, 1/SPS-10D, 1/SPS-40D, and SPS-52C; improving the communications suite; and increasing the output of the four generator sets to 750 kw each. The ships can direct 3 Standard missiles simultaneously, using the SPG-60.
The non-conversion ships are also being upgraded during regular overhauls: SPS-40 has replaced the SPS-37 originally fitted to the first 13 ships in at least 5 units to date; SLQ-32(V)2 is replacing the WLR-1F and ULQ-6B suite, and Mk 36 SRBOC chaff launchers arebeing added (permitting the deletion of one mast platform); SRN-25 lightweight TACAN is replacing SRN-6; the Mk 68 GFCS is receiving a digital computer system in DDG 4-6, 8-12, 15, 18, and 21; SPS-39A radars are being replaced by SPS-52B (same antenna), and other improvements are being made to the communications suites. Only four ships have the SQQ-23 sonar.
In ships with Mk 11 launchers, 4 Harpoons are carried; in Mk 13-equipped ships, 6 are carried. Ships with Mk 11 launchers carry 4 Harpoons, the others 6. Several carry small navigational radars.
Updating the reference: all Charles F Adams-class destroyers have left service with the U.S. Navy. Decommissioning dates are as follows:
DDG-2 01AUG90 DDG-14 ....... DDG-3 30MAR90 DDG-15 ....... DDG-4 30MAR90 DDG-16 01FEB90 DDG-5 ..JUN90 DDG-17 29OCT90 DDG-6 17DEC90 DDG-18 ....... DDG-7 ..SEP89 DDG-19 ....... DDG-8 ....... DDG-20 .....92 DDG-9 01OCT90 DDG-21 01OCT90 DDG-10 ....... DDG-22 ....... DDG-11 ....... DDG-23 27APR90 DDG-12 ....... DDG-24 ....... DDG-13 01OCT90
Royal Australian Navy: Perth Class
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv. DDG 38 HMAS PERTH (ex-US DDG-38) Defoe SB 21SEP62 26SEP63 17JUL65 DDG 39 HMAS HOBART (ex-US DDG-39) Defoe SB 26OCT62 09JAN64 18DEC65 DDG 41 HMAS BRISBANE (ex-US DDG-41) Defoe SB 15FEB65 05MAY66 16DEC67
Notes: Generally similar to the US Charles F Adams class, but they differ by the addition of a broad deckhouse between the funnels which was the magazine for then now deleted Ikara system. The magazine complex has been converted for a variety of uses, including accomodation and recreation spaces. The USS Goldsborough which was paid off in 1992 was acquired from the US to provide spares and equipment for training. The ship was scrapped in 1994. In 1990/91 all ships were fitted for Phalanx CIWS, although the mountings are maintained in a fleet pool system. To accomodate Phalanx the ship's boats have been replaced by RIBs.
German Navy: Lütjens Class
Bldr Laid down Launched In serv. D 185 LUTJENS (ex-US DDG-28) Bath Iron Works 01MAR66 11AUG67 22MAR69 D 186 MOLDERS (ex-US DDG-29) Bath Iron Works 12APR66 12APR68 20SEP69 D 187 ROMMEL (ex-US DDG-30) Bath Iron Works 22AUG67 01FEB69 02MAY70
Notes: Some differences from Charles F Adams in W/T areials and general outline, particularly the funnels. Modified to suit West German requirements and practice. 1965 contract. The Type 103B modernisation and other modifications included: installation of one single-arm Mk 13 launcher for Standard SAM and Harpoon SSM; improved fire control with digital in place of analog computers; higher superstructure abaft bridge with SPG 60 and SPQ 9 on a mast platform. RAM launchers are being fitted in front of the bridge and aft of the Mk 13 launcher. EW update in 1995/96.
Greek Navy: Kimon Class (all transferred from the U.S. Navy following
decommissioning)
The Greek designation for this type of ship is A/T, for antitorpilliko;
roughly, "destroyer."
Bldr Decomissioned Recommissioned
D 218 KIMWN/"KEMON" Avondale Marine Ways ....... 12SEP91
(ex-Semmes)
D 219 NEARXOS/"NEARCHOS" Todd Shipyards ....... 01OCT92
(ex-Waddell)
D 220 FORMIWN/"FORMION" New York Shipbuilding 01FEB90 01OCT92
(ex-Miltadis, ex-Joseph Stauss)
D 221 8EMISTOKLHS/"THEMISTOCLES" New York Shipbuilding ....... 01OCT92
(ex-Konon, ex-Berkely)
Notes: Leased as part of the Defence Co-Operation Agreement signed with the USA on 8 July 1990. Kimon recomissioned at Salamis, the remainder at San Diego prior to sailing for Greece. A fifth of class Richard E. Byrd (DDG 23) was towed to Salamis on 12 October 1993 where she is used for spares.
[Information on the foreign service ships of this class
is taken from Jane's Fighting Ships, 1995-96 edition, ed. by Captain
Richard Sharpe OBE RN (© 1995 by Jane's
Information Group Limited ISBN 0-7106-1254-0), and private correspondance
relative to the Hellenic Navy.]
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AMPHIBIOUS WARFARE SHIPS
«» 5 Tarawa-class amphibious assault ships (SCB 410 type)
Bldr: Ingalls SB, Litton Ind., Pascagoula, Miss.
Laid down Launched In serv. LHA 1 TARAWA 15NOV71 1DEC73 29MAY76 LHA 2 SAIPAN 21JUL72 18JUL74 15OCT77 LHA 3 BELLEAU WOOD (ex-Philippine Sea) 5MAR73 11APR77 23SEP78 LHA 4 NASSAU (ex-Leyte Gulf) 13AUG73 21JAN78 28JUL79 LHA 5 PELELIU (ex-Da Nang, ex-Khe Sanh) 12NOV76 25NOV78 3JUN80
Authorized: 1 in FY 69, 2 in FY 70, 2 in FY 71
REMARKS: The LHA is a multipurpose assault transport, a combination of LPH and LPD. It has the general profile of an aircraft carrier, with its superstructure to starboard, flight deck, helicopter elevators to port (folding) and aft, and an 80 x 23.4-m well deck for landing craft (up to four LCU 1610 class). Two LCM(6) and two LCP are stowed on deck. Vehicle stowage garage forward of docking well totals 3,134 m2, and the palletized cargo holds total 3,311 m3. Carry approx. 1,200 tons JP-5 fuel for helicopters. The boilers are the largest ever installed in a U. S. Navy ship; the propulsion plant is highly automated. Communications systems include satellite antennas and a large, long-range, high-frequency, log-periodic array. LHA-4 carried 20 AV-8A Harrier V/STOL attack fighters as well as transport helicopters during a 1981 exercise. Very complete 300-bed hospital and mortuary facilities are fitted. All troops have bunks. Completely air-conditioned. Four additional units were canceled in 1971. The 127-mm guns are aboard primarily to provide shore fire support, but can also be used for AA; they are controlled by a Mk 86 Mod. 4 fire-control system with SPQ-9A radar for surface fire, SPG-60 for AA, and two unmanned electro-optical backup directors. Each Mk 25 Sea Sparrow launcher has an associated Mk 115 radar fire-control system with Mk 71 directors. All scheduled to receive two 20-mm Vulcan/Phalanx Gatling AA in place of the Sea Sparrow launchers starting about 1985 and SLQ-32(V)3 in place of their present ECM systems. Kevlar plastic armor added to all 1982-85. A bulbous forefoot (as on the Wasp-class LHD) is to be backfitted to improve endurance and one 127-mm gun is to be removed.