USS Adroit (MSO-509)
Encyclopedia
USS Adroit (AM-509/MSO-509) was an Acme-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.
The second ship to be named Adroit by the Navy, MSO-509 was laid down on 18 November 1954 at Boothbay Harbor, Maine, by Frank L. Sample, Jr., Inc. as AM-509; redesignated MSO 509 on 7 February 1955, named Adroit on 17 May 1955; launched on 20 August 1955; sponsored by Mrs. Alice G. Olsen, the wife of Capt. Eliot Olsen, and commissioned on 4 March 1957, Lt. Comdr. J. G. Nemetz in command.
. From that port, she conducted shakedown
training in the West Indies and in the local operating area. The minesweeper then began a period of almost 17 years of service with the Atlantic Fleet Mine Force. During that time, she provided services for several Navy organizations most notably the Naval Mine Defense Laboratory (after 1971 the Naval Coastal Systems Laboratory) at Panama City, Florida
, the Naval Ordnance Laboratory Test Facility at Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and the Mine Warfare School at Charleston, South Carolina
. In addition, Adroit participated in Gordon Cooper's Project Mercury
, space shot in May 1963 and helped the Naval Oceanographic Office
to conduct a test in March of 1970. The minesweeper also made occasional deployments to both the Mediterranean sea and the West Indies. During her tour of duty with the U.S. 6th Fleet in the summer of 1958, she earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
as a result of service off the coast of strife-torn Lebanon
. For the most part, however, normal operations such as exercises and goodwill port visits occupied her time overseas. While serving in home waters, she concentrated on type training independent ship's exercises, regular overhauls, and repair periods.
. She departed Charleston on 24 September and arrived in Newport on the 28th. The minesweeper spent the remainder of her Navy career training naval reservists. She operated along the U.S. East Coast participating in a number of exercises most frequently independent ship's exercises and amphibious assault training. In August of 1977, her base was changed to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
in Kittery Maine (near Portsmouth, New Hampshire), whence she operated for more than four years. Early in October of 1981 Adroit changed home ports once again from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
, to Little Creek, Virginia. As of December of 1987, she was still operating from the Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Virginia. She deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991. She operated with The Multinational Coalition Mine Countermeasure Force that found approximately 1300 Iraqi-laid mines in the Gulf.
Adroit had 34.9 years of service.
, 30 May 1995.
In 1994, Wilmington, North Carolina became the site of a ship scrapping operation. There were twenty decommissioned U.S.NAVY warships and one maritime ship. Wilmington Resources, Inc.,and Sigma Recycling, LLC, operated the facility. The USS ADROIT MSO 509 was dismantled and scrapped at this facility.
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
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.
The second ship to be named Adroit by the Navy, MSO-509 was laid down on 18 November 1954 at Boothbay Harbor, Maine, by Frank L. Sample, Jr., Inc. as AM-509; redesignated MSO 509 on 7 February 1955, named Adroit on 17 May 1955; launched on 20 August 1955; sponsored by Mrs. Alice G. Olsen, the wife of Capt. Eliot Olsen, and commissioned on 4 March 1957, Lt. Comdr. J. G. Nemetz in command.
East Coast operations
Following commissioning, Adroit completed fitting out and then moved south to Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. From that port, she conducted shakedown
Shakedown (testing)
A shakedown is a period of testing or a trial journey undergone by a ship, aircraft or other craft and its crew before being declared operational. Statistically, a proportion of the components will fail after a relatively short period of use, and those that survive this period can be expected to...
training in the West Indies and in the local operating area. The minesweeper then began a period of almost 17 years of service with the Atlantic Fleet Mine Force. During that time, she provided services for several Navy organizations most notably the Naval Mine Defense Laboratory (after 1971 the Naval Coastal Systems Laboratory) at Panama City, Florida
Panama City, Florida
-Personal income:The median income for a household in the city was $31,572, and the median income for a family was $40,890. Males had a median income of $30,401 versus $21,431 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,830...
, the Naval Ordnance Laboratory Test Facility at Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and the Mine Warfare School at Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. In addition, Adroit participated in Gordon Cooper's Project Mercury
Project Mercury
In January 1960 NASA awarded Western Electric Company a contract for the Mercury tracking network. The value of the contract was over $33 million. Also in January, McDonnell delivered the first production-type Mercury spacecraft, less than a year after award of the formal contract. On February 12,...
, space shot in May 1963 and helped the Naval Oceanographic Office
Naval Oceanographic Office
The Naval Oceanographic Office , located at John C. Stennis Space Center in south Mississippi, comprises approximately 1,000 civilian, military and contract personnel responsible for providing oceanographic products and services to all elements within the Department of Defense.Valued by maritime...
to conduct a test in March of 1970. The minesweeper also made occasional deployments to both the Mediterranean sea and the West Indies. During her tour of duty with the U.S. 6th Fleet in the summer of 1958, she earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy...
as a result of service off the coast of strife-torn Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. For the most part, however, normal operations such as exercises and goodwill port visits occupied her time overseas. While serving in home waters, she concentrated on type training independent ship's exercises, regular overhauls, and repair periods.
Reassigned to Newport, Rhode Island
The character of Adroit's Navy career changed significantly midway through 1973. That summer, she received word of her reassignment to naval reserve training duty and of a change of home ports from Charleston to Newport, Rhode IslandNewport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
. She departed Charleston on 24 September and arrived in Newport on the 28th. The minesweeper spent the remainder of her Navy career training naval reservists. She operated along the U.S. East Coast participating in a number of exercises most frequently independent ship's exercises and amphibious assault training. In August of 1977, her base was changed to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard , often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard located in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is used for remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships...
in Kittery Maine (near Portsmouth, New Hampshire), whence she operated for more than four years. Early in October of 1981 Adroit changed home ports once again from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard , often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard located in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is used for remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships...
, to Little Creek, Virginia. As of December of 1987, she was still operating from the Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Virginia. She deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991. She operated with The Multinational Coalition Mine Countermeasure Force that found approximately 1300 Iraqi-laid mines in the Gulf.
Adroit had 34.9 years of service.
Final decommissioning
Adroit was decommissioned 12 December 1991 and was stricken 8 May 1992. She was sold for scrap 15 April 1994 and scrapped at Wilmington, North CarolinaWilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, 30 May 1995.
In 1994, Wilmington, North Carolina became the site of a ship scrapping operation. There were twenty decommissioned U.S.NAVY warships and one maritime ship. Wilmington Resources, Inc.,and Sigma Recycling, LLC, operated the facility. The USS ADROIT MSO 509 was dismantled and scrapped at this facility.
External links
- NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - Adroit (MSO 509) - ex-AM-509
- USS ADROIT Website - Adroit (MSO 509) - ex-AM-509