USS Inflict (AM-456)
History | |
---|---|
United States | |
Builder | Wilmington Boat Works, Wilmington, Los Angeles |
Laid down | 29 October 1952 |
Launched | 16 October 1953 |
Commissioned | 11 May 1954 |
Decommissioned | 30 March 1990 |
Stricken | 23 May 1990 |
Homeport | Long Beach, California |
Fate | Sold, 1 December 1992 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Aggressive class minesweeper |
Displacement | 620 tons |
Length | 172 ft (52.43 m) |
Beam | 36 ft (10.97 m) |
Draught | 10 ft (3.05 m) |
Propulsion | Four propellers |
Speed | 16 knots (30 km/h) |
Complement | 72 |
Armament | one 40 mm mount |
USS Inflict (AM-456/MSO-456) was an
The second ship to be named Inflict by the Navy, AM-456 was launched 16 October 1953 by Wilmington Boat Works, Wilmington, Los Angeles; sponsored by Mrs. Robert E. Carlson; and commissioned 11 May 1954.
West Coast operations
After
Second Far East tour
In 1957, Inflict continued operations off
From 19 to 22 March 1958, Inflict participated in Exercise "Bulwark", the first bilateral exercise between
Inflict participated in joint exercises with the Thailand, and Chinese Nationalist navies before returning to Long Beach on 15 July.
West Coast exercises
For the next 20 months she trained in California waters. On 3 May 1960, Inflict sailed again for six months of joint operations with U.S. allies in Asia, and returned to Long Beach on 16 November.
In 1961, Inflict was engaged in minesweeping operations and midshipman training out of Long Beach.
She sailed 7 April 1962 for exercises in Hawaiian waters, and returning to Long Beach on 17 August.
In 1963, in addition to training in California waters, Inflict sailed on 28 October for joint countermeasure exercises with Canada, and returned to Long Beach on 3 December.
On 22 May 1964, she sailed for duty in the Far East, operating with the friendly navies, and during the summer was deployed for service along South Vietnam. Inflict returned to Long Beach on 7 December.
Supporting Market Time operations
She sailed for the Far East on 7 February 1966. Arriving Subic Bay on 28 March, she headed for her "Market Time" station on 5 April. There, she patrolled to prevent the infiltration of arms and men from North Vietnam to the south. She left the war zone on 1 November and returned to Long Beach on 13 December.[citation needed]
Inflict operated on the West Coast through mid-November 1967, when she again sailed for the Far East, with stops in Hawaii, Kwajalein, and Guam, arriving in Subic bay at the beginning of January 1968. She was on her "Market Time" patrol station when the USS Pueblo was captured in January and during the Tet Offensive in February 1968. She sailed from Subic Bay for the US West Coast in May and arrived in Long Beach in late June.[citation needed]
Overhauled in Dillingham Shipyards in Hawaii with the Force MSO445, Fortify MSO446, Impervious MSO 449: replaced Packard diesel engine with Waukasha L1616 turbo diesels. December 1971, following overhaul the 4 ships changed Home port to Guam and became MineFlot 1 under Commander Lloyd Boucher.[citation needed] The Inflict made several Market Time tours from 1971 thru 1973. More memorable events Oct.31 1972 Engineroom fire due to error by Lead EN on watch, failed to apply cooling water to clutch while engine idled. Disabled port shaft had to be towed to Subic Bay for repairs. A month later the Inflict with USS King DLG 10 and US Geodedic Survey team of 4 collected bottom samples and data in preparation for removing US mines from North Vietnamese Harbors etc. Leaving the area off Haiphong Harbor they encountered a convoy of over 40 Chinese Junks with the DPR of China flags. No real engagement as they were in International Waters. It was very eerie. December 1972 many crew members transferred January 1973 Peace Treaty signed with North Vietnam. The Inflict and Mine Flot 1 took part in the removal of US mines with the first Helicopter Minesweepers.[citation needed]
Persian Gulf service
On 6 September 1987,
Decommissioning
Decommissioned on 30 March 1990 Inflict was stricken 23 May 1990. On 1 December 1992, the Navy sold the ship for $12,000 for scrap.
References
- ^ Coast Defense Exercise Ends, by Bernardo De Leon Jr. Manila Times. 21 March 1958.
- ^ Grapple ships history 1987
- This article incorporates 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.