USS Pledge (MSO-492)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Pledge.

USS Pledge (MSO-492) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy.

History
United States
Name	USS Pledge (MSO-492)
Laid down	24 June 1954
Launched	20 July 1955
Commissioned	20 April 1956
Decommissioned	31 January 1994
Stricken	31 January 1994
Homeport	Long Beach, California
Fate	Sold to the Republic of China, 9 September 1994
Taiwan
Name	ROCS Yung Teh (MSO-1309)
Acquired	9 September 1994
Commissioned	1 March 1995
Decommissioned	16 March 2021
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

The second ship to be named Pledge by the Navy, MSO-492, a minesweeper, was laid down on 24 June 1954 by the J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington, launched 20 July 1955, sponsored by Mrs. T. F. Uitsch, and commissioned 20 April 1956.

West Coast operations

After sea trials, Pledge joined her sister ships at Long Beach, California, 25 May 1956. Following training from July 1956 to February 1957 she operated in WESTPAC March to September 1957. She underwent modification from October 1957 to March 1958. In May-June of 1958 the Pledge participated in training exercises with Canadian minesweepers off the coast of Vancouver Island near Cook Inlet. September of 1959 the Pledge and the other four ships in her division (the Esteem, Gallant and two others) again deployed to Sasebo Japan. Enroute, carrying the division doctor, the Pledge was detached to rendezvous with a submarine where a high line transfer of the doctor was completed (and returned after diagnosing a submariner with appendicitis).

Vietnam operations

USS Pledge (MSO-492) underway off Vietnam in October 1967

Deployed to WESTPAC 24 August 1961, she visited Bangkok, Thailand, in November, and Saigon, Vietnam, in December. In early 1962 she participated in special training operations at Da Nang, Vietnam until her departure 17 February. Her deployment to WESTPAC, 12 August 1963 included exercises with South Korean ships in October and Nationalist Chinese ships in November. On her next assignment to WESTPAC, 13 August 1965, She performed coastal surveillance duties off the Republic of Vietnam from 18 October to 16 November 1965 and from 18 December into early 1966.

Into 1970 Pledge remained active with the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Decommissioning

Decommissioned and stricken 31 January 1994, Pledge was sold to Taiwan on 8 March of that year.

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 - Pledge (MSO-492) - ex-AM-492