USS Salute (MSO-470) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

History
United States
NameUSS Salute
BuilderLuders Marine Construction Co., Stamford, Connecticut
Laid down17 March 1953
Launched14 August 1954, as AM-470
Commissioned4 May 1955
Decommissioned15 May 1970
ReclassifiedMSO-470 (Ocean Minesweeper), 7 February 1955
Stricken1 February 1971
FateSold for scrapping, August 1971
General characteristics
Class and typeAggressive-class minesweeper
Displacement
  • 630 long tons (640 t) light
  • 755 long tons (767 t) full load
Length172 ft (52 m)
Beam35 ft (11 m)
Draft12 ft (4 m)
Propulsion
Speed14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement8 officers, 70 enlisted
Armament

Salute was laid down on 17 March 1953 by the Luders Marine Construction Co., Stamford, Connecticut; launched on 14 August 1954; sponsored by Mrs. Frederick A. Edwards; reclassified MSO-470 on 7 February 1955; and commissioned on 4 May 1955.

Service history

edit

Based at Charleston, South Carolina, Salute provided minesweeping services along the U.S. East Coast, in the Caribbean, and in the Mediterranean from 1955 to 1970. Duty with the 6th Fleet took her to the Mediterranean six times during this period.

Search for lost H-Bomb off Spain

edit

In March 1966, Salute used special equipment to aid in the search off the Spanish coast for an H-bomb lost in waters off Palomares after a mid-air bomber collision. In May 1967, she received visitors on board while at the world's fair at Montreal, Canada.

Inactivity and decommissioning

edit

She remained active in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet until decommissioned on 15 May 1970 for mine warfare conversion. However, on 16 October, her conversion was cancelled; she was struck from the Navy list on 1 February 1971 and was sold for scrapping in August to Charles Gural of Rahway, New Jersey for $1,700.

References

edit