Bluebird 1963
Bluebird 1972
| No | Name | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comm | Fate |
| AMS121, 2.1955- MSC121 | Bluebird | Mare Island N Yd, Vallejo | 2.1952 | 11.5.1953 | 7.1953 | stricken 1.1975 | |
| AMS122, 2.1955- MSC122 | Cormorant | Mare Island N Yd, Vallejo | 2.1952 | 8.6.1953 | 8.1953 | stricken 3.1974 | |
| AMS190, 2.1955- MSC190 | Falcon | Quincy Adams, Quincy | 5.1953 | 21.9.1953 | 11.1954 | to Indonesia 1971 (722 Pulau Aru) | |
| AMS191, 2.1955- MSC191 | Frigate Bird | Quincy Adams, Quincy | 7.1953 | 24.10.1953 | 1.1955 | to Indonesia 1971 (721 Pulau Antang) | |
| MSC192 | Hummingbird | Quincy Adams, Quincy | 10.1953 | 25.12.1954 | 2.1955 | to Indonesia 1971 (720 Pulau Impalasa) | |
| MSC193 | Jacana | Quincy Adams, Quincy | 2.1954 | 25.2.1955 | 3.1955 | to Indonesia 1971 (718 Pulau Aruan) | |
| MSC194 | Kingbird | Quincy Adams, Quincy | 2.1954 | 21.5.1954 | 4.1955 | stricken 7.1972 | |
| MSC195 | Limpkin | Broward, Fort Lauderdale | 4.1953 | 21.5.1954 | 3.1955 | to Indonesia 1971 (719 Pulau Anjer) | |
| MSC196 | Meadowlark | Broward, Fort Lauderdale | 5.1953 | 28.8.1954 | 5.1955 | to Indonesia 1971 (717 Pulau Alor) | |
| MSC197 | Parrot | Broward, Fort Lauderdale | 12.1953 | 27.11.1954 | 6.1955 | stricken 8.1972 | |
| MSC198 | Peacock | Harbor Boat, Terminal Island | 1.1953 | 19.6.1954 | 3.1955 | stricken 7.1975 | |
| MSC199 | Phoebe | Harbor Boat, Terminal Island | 2.1953 | 21.8.1954 | 4.1955 | stricken 7.1975 | |
| AMS200, 2.1955- MSC200 | Redwing | Tampa Marine | 7.1953 | 29.4.1954 | 1.1955 | to Spain 6.1959 (M29 Sil) | |
| MSC201 | Shrike | Tampa Marine | 9.1953 | 21.7.1954 | 3.1955 | stricken 7.1975 | |
| MSC202 | Spoonbill | Tampa Marine | 11.1953 | 3.8.1954 | 6.1955 | to Spain 6.1959 (M28 Duero) | |
| MSC203 | Thrasher | Tampa Marine | 4.1954 | 6.10.1954 | 8.1955 | stricken 7.1975, to Singapore (Mercury) | |
| MSC204 | Thrush | Tampa Marine | 5.1954 | 5.1.1955 | 11.1955 | research vessel 7.1975 | |
| MSC205 | Vireo | Bellingham SY | 9.1953 | 30.4.1954 | 6.1955 | stricken 7.1975, to Fiji (Kula) | |
| MSC206 | Warbler | Bellingham SY | 10.1953 | 18.6.1954 | 7.1955 | stricken 7.1975, to Fiji (Kiro) | |
| MSC207 | Whippoorwill | Bellingham SY | 1.1954 | 13.8.1954 | 10.1955 | to Singapore 7.1975 (Jupiter) | |
| MSC208 | Widgeon | Bellingham SY | 5.1954 | 15.10.1954 | 11.1955 | stricken 7.1973 | |
| MSC209 | Woodpecker | Bellingham SY | 6.1954 | 7.1.1955 | 2.1956 | to Fiji 7.1976 (Kikau) | |
| MSC289 | Albatross | Tacoma BB | 2.1959 | 26.3.1960 | 4.1961 | stricken 4.1970 | |
| MSC290 | Gannet | Tacoma BB | 5.1959 | 26.5.1960 | 7.1961 | stricken 4.1970 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
360 |
|
Displacement full, t |
400 |
|
Length, m |
42.1 wl 44.3 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
8.10 |
|
Draught, m |
2.10 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
MSC121, 122, 190 - 199: 2 Packard diesels MSC200 - 209, 289, 290: 2 General Motors 8-268A diesels |
|
Power, h. p. |
MSC121, 122, 190 - 199: 1200 MSC200 - 209: 880 MSC289, 290: 1000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
MSC121, 122, 190 - 199: 13 MSC200 - 209: 12 MSC289, 290: 12.5 |
|
Fuel, t |
diesel oil |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
2500(10) |
|
Armament |
1 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 24, acoustic, magnetic, mechanical minesweeping gear |
|
Sensors |
SPS-53 radar, UQS-1 sonar |
|
Complement |
39 |
Project history: These ships were essentially versions of the Second World War YMS, initially for transfer abroad under the MDAP programme, and initially designated AMS (later MSC, for coastal). The original design did not show XMAP capability, and 'improved magnetic signature', but because of cost and time considerations, and extreme measures taken in AM design will not be used. Designs with both the new Packard (total 1200bhp) and a proven GM 8-268A (total 880bhp) diesel were prepared, the latter favoured for foreign customers. They were to be armed with a twin 20mm gun forward, compared to the 76mm/50 of the YMS and to the single 40mm of the MSO. Of 159 units of the original Bluebird (SCB 69) class launched from 1953 onwards all but twenty were transferred. They are often called the Adjutant class. Many more units were built abroad with US assistance, primarily to British designs. Where the US MSCs had wooden frames, the British used aluminium. All had controllable-pitch propellers for agility in minefields. Albatross (MSC289) and Gannet (MSC290) were the last US sweepers authorised until the MCMs of the 1980s (which may not in fact be built) and were slightly enlarged Bluebirds. Of 25 units built, only two were retained in US service. They introduced gas turbine generators for magnetic sweeping and modified gear-handling equipment.
Modernizations: None.
Naval service: No significant events.
Peacock
© Ivan Gogin, 2015