USS Affray (MSO-511)

Last updated
USS Affray (MSO-511) on the Potomac in 1983.jpeg
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
Laid down24 August 1955
Launched18 December 1956
Commissioned8 December 1958
Decommissioned20 December 1992
Stricken28 June 1993
Homeport
FateSold for scrapping, 4 December 2000
General characteristics
Displacement750 tons
Length173 ft (53 m)
Beam36 ft (11 m)
Draught14 ft (4.3 m)
Speed14 knots
Complement78
Armamentone 40 mm gun mount, two .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns

USS Affray (AM-511/MSO-511) was an Acme-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

Contents

The second ship to be named Affray by the Navy was laid down on 24 August 1955 at Boothbay Harbor, Maine, by Frank L. Sample, Jr., Inc.; launched on 18 December 1956; sponsored by Mrs. John A. Click; and commissioned on 8 December 1958.

East Coast operations

After fitting out, Affray devoted the first six months of 1959 to shakedown and type training. At the end of June, she entered the Charleston Naval Shipyard for post-shakedown overhaul. Complicated by the addition of modernization alterations, the repair period lasted into 1960.

North Atlantic/European operations

After completing final acceptance trials, the minesweeper joined the Atlantic Fleet Mine Force and, for almost a decade, alternated between deployments to the Mediterranean with the U.S. 6th Fleet, extended tours of duty in the West Indies, and a variety of assignments out of her home port. Her duties during cruises to the Mediterranean and the West Indies consisted mainly of exercises and goodwill visits to various ports. Her operations out of Charleston took a number of forms. In October 1962, Affray provided support for a Project Mercury space shot. Later in 1966, she participated in a succession of tests for such organizations as the Bureau of Ships, the Mine Warfare School, the David Taylor Model Basin, and the Naval Ordnance Laboratory Test Facility.

Training ship assignments

At the end of October 1969, the minesweeper concluded her final deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. Assignments in the West Indies, however, remained an important feature on her agenda as did support services for the Mine Warfare School and for Navy research and development activities. In 1973, Affray's assignment was changed significantly. On 1 July, she received orders reassigning her to naval reserve training duty. On 1 October, the warship reported for duty at her new home port -- Portland, Maine. There she served as a drill platform for naval reservists. In addition, she continued to participate in major exercises emphasizing minesweeping and amphibious warfare. On 1 October 1981, after being based eight years at Portland, Affray was reassigned to Newport, Rhode Island. As of the end of 1986, she was training naval reservists from her base at Newport.

Decommissioning

Affray was decommissioned on 20 December 1992 and struck from the Navy list on 28 June 1993. She was sold in the year 2000 for scrapping.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Ability</i> (MSO-519) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

The second USS Ability (MSO-519) was an Ability-class minesweeper in the service of the United States Navy.

USS <i>Vital</i> (MSO-474) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Vital (AM-474/MSO-474) was an Agile-class minesweeper in service with the United States Navy from 1955 to 1972. She was sold for scrap in 1979.

USS Swerve (AM-495/MSO-495) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

USS <i>Acme</i> (MSO-508) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Acme (MSO-508) was an Acme-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

USS <i>Bold</i> (AM-424) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Bold (MSO-424) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of clearing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

USS <i>Pinnacle</i> (MSO-462) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Pinnacle (AM-462/MSO-462) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

USS <i>Valor</i> (AM-472) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Valor (AM-472/MSO-472) was an Agile-class minesweeper in service with the United States Navy from 1954 to 1970. She was sold for scrap in 1971.

USS <i>Agile</i> (MSO-421) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Agile (MSO-421) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.

USS <i>Vigor</i> (AM-473) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Vigor (AM-473/MSO-473) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.

USS <i>Avenge</i> (AM-423) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Avenge (MSO-423) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of clearing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

USS <i>Dominant</i> (AM-431) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Dominant (MSO-431) was an Agile-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy.

USS <i>Nimble</i> (AM-459) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Nimble (AM-459/MSO-459) was an Agile-class minesweeper in service with the United States Navy from 1955 to 1970. She was sold for scrap in 1981.

USS <i>Notable</i> (MSO-460) U.S. Navy minesweeper

USS Notable (AM-460/MSO-460) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

USS <i>Observer</i> (MSO-461) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Observer (AM-461/MSO-461) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

USS <i>Sagacity</i> (MSO-469) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Sagacity (AM-469/MSO-469) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

USS Stalwart (AM-493/MSO-493) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

USS <i>Venture</i> (MSO-496) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Venture (AM-496/MSO-496) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

USS <i>Adroit</i> (MSO-509) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Adroit (AM-509/MSO-509) was an Acme-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

USS <i>Alacrity</i> (MSO-520) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Alacrity (AM-520/MSO-520) was an Ability-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

USS <i>Assurance</i> (MSO-521) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Assurance (AM-521/MSO-521) was an Ability-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .The entry can be found here.