USS Persistent (MSO-491)

Last updated
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NamePersistent
Builder J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp.
Laid down17 June 1954
Launched23 April 1955
Commissioned3 February 1956
Decommissioned1 July 1971
Stricken1 August 1974
Identification Hull number: AM-491/MSO-491
FateSold to Spain, 1 August 1974
Naval Jack of Spain.svgSpain
NameGuadalquivir
Acquired1 August 1974
Identification Pennant number: M43
Fateunknown
General characteristics
Class and type Aggressive-class minesweeper
Displacement775 tons (full load)
Length172 ft (52 m)
Beam36 ft (11 m)
Draft10 ft (3.0 m)
Speed15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement74
Armament
  • 1 × twin 20 mm gun
  • 2 × .50 cal (12.7 mm) twin machine guns

USS Persistent (AM-491/MSO-491) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing naval mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

Contents

The second ship to be named Persistent by the Navy, the vessel was laid down 17 June 1954 as AM-491 by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington; reclassified MSO–491 on 7 February 1955; launched 23 April 1955; sponsored by Mrs. M.S. Erdahl; and commissioned 3 February 1956.

West Coast operations

Following Pacific coast shakedown, Persistent reported for duty to Commander, Pacific Fleet, 2 March 1956 and was designated flagship for Mine Division 91 the same day. In September 1956, she was modified for advanced sound reduction to protect against acoustic mines.

In August 1957, she deployed to WestPac as part of Mine Countermeasures Group, U.S. 7th Fleet. After return to Long Beach, California, for regular overhaul in February 1958 and completion of type training that year, she engaged in research at the Navy Acoustic Range, Puget Sound, September 1959. Later that year she measured ocean currents under assignment to Scripps Institute of Oceanography.

After another deployment to WestPac in 1960, she returned to California in July. After type training in 1961, she deployed to WestPac in January 1962, assisting in the training of South Vietnamese sailors from January to August. After domestic operations in 1963, she deployed annually to WestPac from 1964 to 1970. She returned from her last WestPac early in 1971. Until 1971 she remained active with the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Decommissioning

Persistent was decommissioned on 1 July 1971 and struck from the Navy list on 1 August 1974. In 1974, she was sold to Spain, which named her Guadalquivir (M43).

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Gallant</i> (MSO-489) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Gallant (MSO-489), an Aggressive-class minesweeper, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named Gallant. The ship served in the US Navy from 1954 until 1994, when it was sold to Taiwan under the Security Assistance Program and renamed to Yung Ku.

USS <i>Lucid</i> (MSO-458) Aggressive-class minesweeper

USS Lucid (AM-458/MSO-458) is an Aggressive-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing naval mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships. She was launched soon after the Korean War, sailed on five Western Pacific (Westpac) cruises and served four tours in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Lucid was decommissioned at the end of 1970 and placed in mothballs after only 15 years of service, as the Vietnam War was winding down and there was no longer a need for a large fleet of minesweepers. She was purchased by civilians and served as a houseboat for ten years, before being sold again in 1986 and used as a warehouse by a scrap metal dealer on Bradford Island, in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. The scrap metal dealer was murdered in 2004 over a property dispute, and in 2005, Lucid was acquired by a foundation seeking to save a ship of its class. In 2011, the ship was moved to the Stockton Maritime Museum to be restored for use as a museum ship. Lucid is the last Aggressive-class minesweeper afloat in the United States.

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 <i>Firm</i> (AM-444) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Firm (AM-444/MSO-444) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper in the United States Navy.

USS <i>Excel</i> (AM-439) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Excel (MSO-439) was an Agile-class minesweeper: laid down, 9 February 1953 as AM-439 at the Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana; launched, 25 September 1953; reclassified an Ocean Minesweeper (non-magnetic) MSO-439, 7 February 1955; commissioned USS Excel (MSO-439), 24 February 1955.

USS <i>Prime</i> (AM-466) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Prime (AM-466/MSO-466), was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy. She was laid down on 30 December 1952 by Wilmington Boat Works, Wilmington, California, launched on 27 May 1954; sponsored by Mrs. Louis Ets-Hokin and commissioned on 11 October 1954.

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>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>Embattle</i> (AM-434) Aggressive-class minesweeper

USS Embattle (AM-434/MSO-434) 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 <i>Energy</i> (AM-436) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Energy (AM-436/MSO-436) 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 <i>Enhance</i> (AM-437) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Enhance (AM-437/MSO-437) 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>Fortify</i> (AM-446) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Fortify (AM-446/MSO-446) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing Contact, Magnetic, and Acoustic mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

USS <i>Illusive</i> (AM-448) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Illusive (AM-448/MSO-448) 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 <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>Observer</i> (MSO-461) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

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 <i>Pivot</i> (MSO-463) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Pivot (AM-463/MSO-463) 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>Pluck</i> (MSO-464) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Pluck (AM-464/MSO-464) 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 <i>Prestige</i> (MSO-465) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Prestige (AM-465/MSO-465) 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 <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 <i>Leader</i> (MSO-490) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Leader (AM-490/MSO-490) 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.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .