USS Thrush (MSC-204)

USS Thrush (MSC-204) was a Bluebird-class minesweeper in the service of the United States Navy from 1955 to 1975.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Thrush.
USS Thrush (MSC-204), steaming out of Key West, Florida
History
United States
NameThrush
NamesakeThrush
BuilderTampa Marine Company, Tampa, Florida
Laid down7 May 1954
Launched5 January 1955
Commissioned8 November 1955
Decommissioned1 July 1975
ReclassifiedCoastal Minesweeper, 7 February 1955
Stricken1 August 1977
Homeport
Identification
FateVirginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, Virginia
United States
NameVirginia Sea
OperatorVIMS
Acquired1 July 1975
RefitOcean Research Vessel
FateScrapped 1 August 1982
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeBluebird-class minesweeper
Displacement320 long tons (330 t)
Length144 ft (44 m)
Beam28 ft (8.5 m)
Draft9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
Installed power
Propulsion
  • Snow and Knobstedt single reduction gear
  • 2 × screws
Speed13 kn (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Complement39
Armament2 × 20 mm (0.8 in) Oerlikon cannons anti-aircraft (AA) mounts

Construction

The second Thrush was laid down 7 May 1954, by Tampa Marine Company, Tampa, Florida; launched on 5 January 1955, as AMS-204; sponsored by Mrs. Edgar S. Russell; reclassified as MSC-204, on 7 February 1955; and commissioned on 8 November 1955.[2]

Assignments

Soon after her commissioning in November 1955, Thrush arrived in Chesapeake Bay to conduct a successful shakedown cruise. In 1956, she was assigned to the Yorktown, Virginia, Mine Warfare School, followed in August by assignment to Norfolk, Virginia, to participate in Operation Hideaway. In 1957, Thrush moved to her new homeport in Key West, Florida, where she tested and evaluated new mine warfare equipment for the 6th Naval District's Mine Warfare Evaluation Detachment.[2]

In 1974, she assisted in expanding the Osborne Artificial Reef.[3] While serving as a Naval Reservist, LeRoy Collins Jr. was Thrush's commanding officer.[4]

Notes
    Citations
    1. Navsource.
    2. DANFS 2015.
    3. Whoriskey, Peter (2006-10-04). "Undersea Fla. tire reef out of control". The Detroit News. Detroit, Michigan, USA: MediaNews Group. ISSN 1055-2715. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
    4. "LeRoy Collins Jr. dies, was head of state's Dept. of Veterans Affairs". Lehigh Acres Citizen. 2010-08-01. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2010-08-04.

    Bibliography

    Online resources

    • Photo gallery of USS Thrush (AMS/MSC-204) at NavSource Naval History
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