USS Affray (MSO-511)

History
United States
Laid down	24 August 1955
Launched	18 December 1956
Commissioned	8 December 1958
Decommissioned	20 December 1992
Stricken	28 June 1993
Homeport	Charleston, South Carolina ; Portland, Maine ; Newport, Rhode Island ;
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 4 December 2000
General characteristics
Displacement	750 tons
Length	173 ft (53 m)
Beam	36 ft (11 m)
Draught	14 ft (4.3 m)
Speed	14 knots
Complement	78
Armament	one 40 mm gun mount, two .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns

Last updated November 27, 2024

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.

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.

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USS Swerve (MSO-495) 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 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.

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

USS Dominant (MSO-431) was an Agile-class minesweeper built for 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 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 Observer (AM-461/MSO-461) 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 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 (MSO-493) 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 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 Adroit (AM-509/MSO-509) was an 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 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 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.

External links

NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - Affray (MSO-511)

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Acme-class minesweepers
Acme Adroit Advance Affray
List of minesweepers of the United States Navy