USS Woodpecker
USS Woodpecker (MSC-209) sweeping
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History | |
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United States | |
Name | Woodpecker |
Namesake | Woodpecker |
Builder | Bellingham Shipyards, Bellingham, Washington |
Laid down | 23 June 1954 |
Launched | 7 January 1955 |
Commissioned | 3 February 1956 |
Decommissioned | 15 December 1970 |
Reclassified | Coastal Minesweeper , 7 February 1955 |
Stricken | 1 July 1976 |
Identification |
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Fate | Sold to Republic of Fiji |
Republic of Fiji | |
Name | Kikau |
Namesake | Kikau |
Identification | Hull sumbol: MSC-204 |
Fate | Sunk as artificial reef 1990 |
General characteristics [1] | |
Class and type | minesweeper |
Displacement | 320 long tons (330 t) |
Length | 144 ft (44 m) |
Beam | 28 ft (8.5 m) |
Draft | 9 ft (2.7 m) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed | 13 kn (24 km/h; 15 mph) |
Complement | 40 |
Armament |
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USS Woodpecker (AMS/MSC-209) was a
Construction
Woodpecker was laid down on 23 June 1954, Bellingham Shipyards, Bellingham, Washington; and was launched on 7 January 1955, as AMS-209; sponsored by Mrs. John L. Thomas. reclassified as MSC-209 on 7 February 1955; and commissioned 3 February 1956.[2]
West Coast service
During trials and training at
Western Pacific service
On 1 October 1956, Woodpecker sailed for Japan via
The
Woodpecker spent the early part of 1959, conducting exercises at Taiwan and at
Woodpecker spent the period from 9 June through 30 September, visiting Maizuru, Sasebo, and Yokosuka, Japan. The ship arrived at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on 30 September, and operated between that port and Sasebo through 26 October. Woodpecker then spent the remainder of 1959, visiting Hong Kong and in port at Sasebo.[2]
The new year, 1960, found Woodpecker at Sasebo. On 25 January, she began searching for a downed aircraft in waters near
Woodpecker arrived at Pusan, Korea, on 9 June 1960, for "Phiblex" operations off Pohang, South Korea, and spent the remainder of June, conducting exercises at Yongil Mon and San Chon Po, Korea, and Miko Wan, Japan.[2]
On 1 July, the minesweeper got underway for Sasebo where she remained until 18 July, when she departed for
Woodpecker departed Sasebo on 13 October, bound for Hong Kong. On 29 October, she set course for Okinawa and remained at Buckner Bay until 6 November, when she sailed for her home port. During December, Woodpecker visited
The ship spent the first part of 1961, undergoing various inspections, overhaul, and refresher training at Yokosuka. From 18 to 25 July, Woodpecker made a "People-to-People" visit to Maizuru and Tsuruga Wan, Japan. During August and September, the ship took part in exercises with the Republic of Korea Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force. This was followed by a rest and rehabilitation run to Hong Kong and a period in dry dock ending on 30 November. Woodpecker finished the year 1961, in the area of Fukuoka Wan and Iwakuni, Japan, conducting two plane hunts, with one success.[2]
Woodpecker spent 1962, in much the same manner as the previous year. During January, she transported an
An exciting episode in Woodpecker's career occurred on 24 February 1962, in Japan's Inland Sea. A fire fighting team from the ship joined one from Widgeon in fighting and extinguishing a raging fire in the engine room of Daiyu Maru.[2]
From 2 through 25 January 1963, Woodpecker conducted refresher training at Yokosuka, Japan. She closed the month with a "People-to-People" visit to Kobe, Japan. The ship spent February and March, participating in combined operations "Minex" with the navies of Korea and Japan. After several inspections and port visits, Woodpecker entered dry dock in mid-September, at Sasebo. On 1 November, the ship took part in Operation "Yellow Bird" in Lingayen Gulf, off Luzon in the Philippines. Following a rest and recreation at Hong Kong, Woodpecker joined in Operation "Big Dipper" in Taiwanese waters which kept her busy through the end of the year.[2]
Woodpecker began 1964, by taking part in Operation "Polar Bear" at
Overhaul and refresher training filled the months of January and February 1965, for the minesweeper. After making port visits at
Vietnam War service
After a brief upkeep period at Subic Bay, Woodpecker was ordered to
About this time, Woodpecker underwent a series of modifications which increased her capabilities and fitted her to carry out challenging operations in Southeast Asia. A series of ship alterations in 1965 and 1966 modernized the ship's communications facilities. In October 1966, she became the first coastal minesweeper in the Western Pacific (WestPac) to operate an on-line
The new year commenced with Woodpecker still on "Market Time" duty off South Vietnam. She completed that assignment on 12 January 1968, and proceeded via Subic Bay to Sasebo where she underwent availability.[2]
On 26 March 1968, Woodpecker got underway for Okinawa and a month of exercises. The ship sailed on 27 April for Exercise "Tarawa", held at Manila with minesweepers from the Philippines, Australia and Great Britain. The exercise ended on 24 May 1968; a month later, she took part in "Reftrex 3-68" and underwent her annual operational readiness inspection.[2]
"Market Time" patrol duty in Vietnam occupied Woodpecker until 7 September, when she moved to Subic Bay for repairs which lasted through 27 October, then spent the remainder of 1968 at Sasebo.[2]
The year 1969 began with a two-week fleet service mine test at Buckner Bay. After an upkeep period in Sasebo, Woodpecker returned to sea for a joint exercise with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force. On 3 March 1969, the ship commenced her regularly scheduled overhaul. Sea trials, refresher training, and two inspections followed. Woodpecker sailed for Vietnam on 13 July and resumed "Market Time" patrols. Her duties included search and rescue missions, illumination firing, plus harassment and interdiction fire. The ship returned to Sasebo on 1 October. Mine countermeasures refresher training at Buckner Bay from 10 to 22 October was followed by a brief stay at Sasebo. From 3 to 13 November, Woodpecker joined in a mine countermeasure exercise with the Korean and British navies. Then, a dependents' cruise and a port visit to Kagoshima, Japan, ensued. The remainder of the year was spent in leave and upkeep status at Sasebo, Japan.[2]
For the first three months of 1970, Woodpecker conducted operations in Subic Bay, Philippines; Buckner Bay, Okinawa (Japan); and Vietnam. She returned to Sasebo on 22 April, and remained there through 29 June, except for a period of refresher training at Yokosuka. On 7 July, Woodpecker left Sasebo and proceeded to Kaohsiung for a "Minex" exercise with elements of the Taiwanese Navy. This was followed early in August by exercises with units of the Japanese fleet at Mutsuwan, Japan. The ship returned to Sasebo on 21 August, and made preparations for her return to the United States. Woodpecker returned to Pearl Harbor on 31 October and reached Long Beach, California on 11 November. After a short upkeep period, she departed for Seattle, Washington, and inactivation. On 15 December 1970, Woodpecker was decommissioned and converted to a Naval Reserve training vessel. She was stricken from the
References
Bibliography
- "Woodpecker". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2017. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- "USS Woodpecker (MSC-209)". Navsource.org. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
External links
- Photo gallery of USS Woodpecker (AMS/MSC-209) at NavSource Naval History