USS Firm (AM-444)
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| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Ordered: | As AM-444 |
| Launched: | 15 April 1953 |
| Commissioned: | 12 October 1954 |
| Battle Stars: | None indicated |
| Reclassified: | MSO-444, 7 February 1955 |
| Decommissioned: | July 5, 1972 |
| Fate: | Transfer to the Philippines as R.P.S. Davao del Sur, July 17, 1972 |
| Struck: | Not indicated |
| General characteristics | |
| Class: | Agile (wooden-hulled minesweeper) |
| Displacement: | 620 tons |
| Length: | 172' |
| Beam: | 36' |
| Draft: | 10' |
| Speed: | 10 k |
| Complement: | 74 |
| Armament: | 1 40 mm. |
The second USS Firm (AM-444/MSO-444) was an Agile-class minesweeper in the United States Navy.
Firm was launched 15 April 1953 by J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington; sponsored by Mrs. Joseph S. Martinac; and commissioned 12 October 1954, Lieutenant J. E. Renn in command. She was reclassified MSO-444 on 7 February 1955.
From her home post at Long Beach, California, headquarters for Mine Force, Pacific Fleet, Firm sailed for training and exercises along the west coast, interrupted during 1955 for her conversion to flagship for Mine Division 94. Between 1 March 1956 and 2 November 1956, and again between 3 November 1958 and 31 May 1959, she served in the Far East with the 7th Fleet, exercising with ships of the Korean, Chinese Nationalist, and Thai navies, as well as visiting a wide number of Oriental ports and taking part in fleet training schedules. Through 1962, Firm continued her west coast operations out of Long Beach.
Firm was decommissioned July 5, 1972. She was transferred to the Philippines as R.P.S. Davao del Sur, July 17, 1972
[edit] References
- This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.
[edit] External links
- Navy Unit Page
- Wooden Ship - Iron Men – USS Firm MSO-444 - A year-by-year detailed account of Firm's history, including photographs
