WWII-era 'Liberty' class cargo vessel
more than 1000 t of displacement:
| No | Name | Launched // Comm. | Builder | Displacement, t | Dimensions, m | Speed, kts | Machinery, power, hp | Armament | Fate |
| MSS1 | Harry L. Glucksman | 29.4.1944 // 6.1969 | Southeastern SB, Savannah | 11565 | 134.7x17.4 | 10 | 5 outboard diesel engines | none | sold 9.1975 |
Project history: The 'guinea-pig' concept continued with the MSS (special devices sweeper) originally proposed in the FY60 programme. It was to sweep 'by its own passage' moored, magnetic, acoustic, and pressure mines in depths safely navigable by ships of this size'. The pressure signature of a 20,000t ship was sought; by sweeping at high speed, it was hoped that the MSS would 'insure that vessels larger than the sweeper will be able safely to traverse the channel at speeds lower than that of the sweeper'. The YAG37 experiments appeared to show that turbo-prop engines above deck would provide propulsion and steering without the threat of underwater damage. There was some hope that the ship's pressure signature could be increased by special pressure generators, and she was to be able to detonate acoustic and magnetic mines as far away as possible. Conversion of the 'Liberty' Ship Harry L. Glucksman was authorised under the FY56 programme. Her hull was strengthened and her former superstructure replaced by a shock-mounted pilot house forward; propulsion was by four outboard motors rather than by the turbo-props of YAG 37. In service she had a crew of one officer and eight enlisted men. MSS2 was a much more austere LST conversion of LST1166.
Modernizations: None.
Naval service: No significant events.
MSS1
© Ivan Gogin, 2015