USS Stalwart (MSO-493)

USS Stalwart (MSO-493) in 1957
History
United States
Laid down	22 June 1954
Launched	3 December 1955
Commissioned	23 April 1957
Decommissioned	24 August 1966
Stricken	1 March 1967
Homeport	Charleston, South Carolina
Fate	sunk 1966, scrapped 1967
General characteristics
Displacement	775 tons (full load)
Length	172 ft (52 m)
Beam	36 ft (11 m)
Draught	10 ft (3.0 m)
Speed	15 knots
Complement	74
Armament	one 40 mm mount

USS Stalwart (MSO-493) was an

for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

The second ship to be named Stalwart by the Navy, MSO-493, ex-AM-493, was laid down on 22 June 1954 by Broward Marine Shipbuilding Co. Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida, launched on 3 December 1955; sponsored by Mrs. Dante B. Fascelli; and commissioned on 23 April 1957.

East Coast operations

Stalwart was assigned to

.

Sixth Fleet deployment

Stalwart was deployed to the

and again from August to November. She was awarded the minesweeping "M" in August for excellence in minesweeping proficiency.

Midshipmen training

In February 1961, Stalwart completed an overhaul and, after refresher training, participated in a joint United States-Canadian exercise off

for four and one-half months and returned to Charleston on 18 October.

Stalwart burns and sinks

Stalwart resumed her normal routine until 28 March 1966 when her division was again deployed to the

on 23 November.

Final status

She was placed out of commission on 24 August 1966 and her name was struck from the

Navy list

on 1 March 1967. Stalwart was subsequently scrapped.

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 - AM / MSO-493 Stalwart