USS Pledge (MSO-492)

USS "Pledge" (AM-492/MSO-492) 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.

The second ship to be named "Pledge" by the Navy, "MSO-492", a minesweeper, was laid down on 24 June 1954 by the J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington, launched 20 July 1955, sponsored by Mrs. T. F. Uitsch, and commissioned 20 April 1956, Lt. Thomas D. Pfundstein in command.

West Coast operations

After sea trials, "Pledge" joined her sister ships at Long Beach, California, 25 May 1956. Following training from July 1956 to February 1957 she operated in WESTPAC March to September 1957. She underwent modification from October 1957 to March 1958.

Vietnam operations

Deployed to WESTPAC 24 August 1961, she visited Bangkok, Thailand, in November, and Saigon, Vietnam, in December. In early 1962 she participated in special training operations at Da Nang, Vietnam until her departure 17 February. Her deployment to WESTPAC, 12 August 1963 included exercises with South Korean ships in October and Nationalist Chinese ships in November. On her next assignment to WESTPAC, 13 August 1965, She performed coastal surveillance duties off the Republic of Vietnam from 18 October to 16 November 1965 and from 18 December into early 1966.

Into 1970 "Pledge" remains active with the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Decommissioning

Decommissioned and stricken 31 January 1994, "Pledge" was sold to Taiwan on 8 March of that year.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* Minesweeper (ship)

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p8/pledge-ii.htm USS Pledge]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/02492.htm NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - Pledge (MSO-492) - ex-AM-492]