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Mine Warfare Patches, MSO MSC MCM MCS MINRON MINDIV MOMAG


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Salvage Sailor

MINE FLOTILLA ONE

 

post-2322-0-96497600-1495910918.jpg

 

Mine Flotilla (MinFlot) ONE was formed and COMINRON THREE reported to this Commander, who wore
both MinFlot1/MinRon 3 “hats” for it’s duration - until the early seventies. Mine Division 33 consisted of ten
MSL’s, a Mike Boat (LCM), an LCPR, and one LCVP. All three Mine Divisions reported to MinFlot 1/MinRon
3, as did a mine disposal/EOD function, and the Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Surveillance Unit 12
(MIUWS 12), until a 1965 trip to DaNang, SVN when we dropped them off permanently for Vietnam duty. All
embarked units were transported aboard the USS Epping Forest MCS-7, and the MSC’s often sailed
independently, but convoyed with EF frequently to many WesPac destinations as a mine flotilla.

 

Mine Flotilla One 002.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

USS FORCE (MSO-445) 5" Gun Club patch

 

MSO 445 USS FORCE Gun Club 001.jpg

 

Reverse - USS FORCE (MSO-445) lost at sea 1973My tour aboard Force ended in January, 1961. In 1972 the ship’s home port was changed to Guam. Unfortunately the ship was lost by fire in the After Engine Room on 24 April 1973 while enroute from Subic Bay to Guam. The fire apparently was caused by a leak in the fuel line on one of the outboard main engines. A contributing factor appears to have been the difficulty in getting the engine stopped due to the inertia of the large flywheel along with some questionable damage control actions on the part of the crew.  More details concerning the loss of the Force and the results of the subsequent investigation can be found on the Navy MSO Association website entitled “MSO Casualties.” This web site also provides information concerning losses and major casualties experienced aboard other ships of the class.

 

MSO 445 USS FORCE Gun Club 002.jpg

 

Agressive class USS FORCE (MSO-445) In service 1955 to 1973 (Lost at Sea due to fire)

 

Unfortunately the ship was lost by fire in the After Engine Room on 24 April 1973 while enroute from Subic Bay to Guam. The fire apparently was caused by a leak in the fuel line on one of the outboard main engines.

 

post-2322-0-12668300-1497484493.jpg

 

There were quite a few Naval Facilities in Long Beach at the time, including the Naval Shipyard, Naval Station, and several piers. A number of destroyers were home ported there as well as all of the Pacific force minesweepers. Force was assigned to Mine Division (MINEDIV) 72. We were referred to as “Can Do 72”. The other ships in our division included:
 
USS Firm (MSO 444) – Division flagship
USS Prime (MSO 466)
USS Embattle (MSO 434)
USS Reaper (MSO 467)

 

USS FORCE XO's story http://www.navyhistory.org/2013/06/minesweeper-uss-force-mso-445-experiences/

 

MSO 445 USS FORCE 002.jpg

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Agressive class USS FORCE (MSO-445) In service 1955 to 1973 (Lost at Sea due to fire)

 

Unfortunately the ship was lost by fire in the After Engine Room on 24 April 1973 while enroute from Subic Bay to Guam. The fire apparently was caused by a leak in the fuel line on one of the outboard main engines.

 

There were quite a few Naval Facilities in Long Beach at the time, including the Naval Shipyard, Naval Station, and several piers. A number of destroyers were home ported there as well as all of the Pacific force minesweepers. Force was assigned to Mine Division (MINEDIV) 72. We were referred to as “Can Do 72”. The other ships in our division included:
USS Firm (MSO 444) – Division flagship
USS Prime (MSO 466)
USS Embattle (MSO 434)
USS Reaper (MSO 467)

 

USS FORCE XO's story http://www.navyhistory.org/2013/06/minesweeper-uss-force-mso-445-experiences/

Nice Patch really like that one.

 

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Salvage Sailor

Agile class USS DIRECT (MSO-430) In service 1954 to 1982. Atlantic Fleet, Sixth Fleet sweeper

 

MSO 430 USS DIRECT 001.jpg

 

MSO 430 USS DIRECT 002.jpg

 

Japanese made 1962

MSO 430 USS DIRECT 003.jpg

 

MSO 430 USS DIRECT 004.jpg

 

 

 

US made 1962 (probably a Gemsco)

MSO 430 USS DIRECT 005.jpg

 

MSO 430 USS DIRECT 006.jpg

 

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Ability class Minesweeper USS ASSURANCE (MSO-521) In service 1958 to 1973, Atlantic & Sixth Fleets

 

MSO 521 USS ASSURANCE 001.jpg

 

MSO 521 USS ASSURANCE 002.jpg

 

After conversion to (AG-521) Ocean Surveillance for the Second and Sixth Fleets, 1973 to 1977

 

1889008720_AG521USSASSURANCE001.jpg.6f8c6e2ad29920dc345330084339efd3.jpg

 

2020072251_AG521USSASSURANCE002.jpg.2191fcc337ceaac594ffa43cf630a85b.jpg

 

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Salvage Sailor
On 9/10/2015 at 9:04 AM, Salvage Sailor said:

USS FORTIFY (MSO-446) Aggressive class in commission 1954-1992

WETSU We Eat This (Poop) Up and her Task Force 78 End Sweep patch

 

Different version USS FORTIFY (MSO-446) 5" Philippine made

 

MSO 446 USS FORTIFY 003.jpg

 

MSO 446 USS FORTIFY 004.jpg

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A very well worn Suez Canal Mine Clearance patch

Mine clearance efforts in 1974 and 1975 after the Yom Kippur War.

Operation Nimbus Moon was the first sweeping operation followed by Nimbus Star then Nimbus Spar

 

post-582-0-20587400-1503629381.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

Aggressive class USS BOLD (MSO-424) Ace Novelty, Tokyo, Japan

In service 1953 to 1971 with the Mine Force Atlantic & Sixth Fleets

 

MSO 424 USS BOLD Ace Novelty 001.jpg

 

MSO 424 USS BOLD Ace Novelty 002.jpg

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Salvage Sailor
On 9/9/2015 at 7:42 PM, Salvage Sailor said:

....and her long service sister ship

USS CONSTANT (MSO-427) Aggressive class in service 1954-1992

Vietnam era and her Desert Storm patch

 

1950's Black Cat version USS CONSTANT (MSO-427) - Have to admire the Mineman's sense of humor in regard to bad luck symbology.....

 

MSO 427 USS CONSTANT 002.jpg

 

MSO 427 USS CONSTANT 003.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

Mine countermeasures support ship USS ORLEANS PARISH (MCS-6) In service 1945 to 1975. Commissioned as LST-1069 and converted to Mine Squadron Eight flagship during the Korean war

 

MCS 6 USS ORLEANS PARISH 001.jpg

 

MCS 6 USS ORLEANS PARISH 002.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

MINDIV 125 - Mine Division 125, Charleston, SC

 

MINDIV 125 001.jpg

 

MINDIV 125 003b.jpg

 

Photo Caption: Mine Division 125 personnel guide minesweeping boat MSB 16 as it is lowered by a yard crane.

The boat will be placed on a skid for loading into the well deck of the amphibious transport dock USS RALEIGH (LPD 1)

 

MINDIV 125 002.jpg

 

MINDIV 125 004a.jpg

Photo Caption: Mine Division 125 minesweeping boats MSB 51, left, and MSB 28, are positioned in the well deck of the amphibious transport dock USS RALEIGH (LPD 1).  Two PB Mark III patrol boats are secured on the fantail

MINDIV 125 001.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

USS ADROIT (MSO-509) Acme class minesweeper in service 1957 to 1991

 

MSO 509 USS ADROIT 001.jpg

 

Japanese made version

 

MSO 509 USS ADROIT 002.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

USS PIVOT (MSO-463) Prince Rocky Lighter

She was a Market Time minesweeper, anyone have the patch?

 

Ligher USS PIVOT MSO 463 Prince Rocky 001.jpg

 

Ligher USS PIVOT MSO 463 Prince Rocky 003.jpg

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Salvage Sailor
On 9/9/2015 at 7:18 PM, Salvage Sailor said:

MINE FORCE U.S. ATLANTIC FLEET

 

COMMANDER MINE FORCE U.S. PACIFIC FLEET

 

COMMANDER MINE FORCE PACIFIC FLEET 001.jpg

 

COMMANDER MINE FORCE PACIFIC FLEET 002.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

USS DYNAMIC (MSO-432) Aggressive class minesweeper in service 1953 to 1971.

(Reclassified from AM-432 to MSO-432 in 1955) Patch circa 1962

 

MSO 432 USS DYNAMIC 001a.jpg

 

MSO 432 USS DYNAMIC 002.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

USS ILLUSIVE (MSO-448) Agile class minesweeper in service 1953 to 1990 - Market Time 1965-1966

 

MSO 448 USS ILLUSIVE 003a.jpg

 

MSO 448 USS ILLUSIVE 004a.jpg

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Salvage Sailor
MOMAG - MOBILE MINE ASSEMBLY GROUP
 
post-2322-0-86453100-1533688920.jpg
 
Before 1975, mine shops around the world were divisions of various naval magazines or ordnance facilities. This arrangement frequently put the magazine's priorities above those of the mine shop's, resulting in Minemen often being assigned to divisions outside their rating. On 1 July 1975, the reorganization of the mine force resulted in the establishment of both the Commander, Mine Warfare Command (COMINEWARCOM) and the Com­mander, Mobile Mine Assembly Group (COMOMAG). This reorganization established MOMAG detachments and units located around the world.
 

image004.jpg

 

MOMAG 002.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

USS VALOR (MSO-472) Agile class in service as AM-472 in 1954, reclassified as MSO-472 in 1955, decommissioned in 1970

 

She served with Mine Force Atlantic Fleet primarily homeported in Charleston, SC (MINDIV 44 - MINRON 4) and deployed with the Sixth Fleet in the Med. She also was operationally subordinated to the Belgian Navy and served in Ostend and the Belgian Congo. Reverting to USN control, she was assigned to Panama City in support of the mine countermeasures development program of the Navy Mine Defense Laboratory.

 

Interesting hand made patch, possibly Belgian made or by a crewman's wife? It's the only USS VALOR patch I've ever seen.

 

MSO 472 USS VALOR 003.jpg

 

MSO 472 USS VALOR 004.jpg

 

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