USS Frigate Bird (AMS-191)

Shrike (AMS-201), Redwing (MSC-200), Hummingbird (MSC-192), Frigate Bird (MSC-191), and Falcon (MS-190) at Charleston, South Carolina
History
United States
Name	Frigate Bird
Namesake	Frigate bird
Builder	Quincy Adams Yacht Yard, Inc., Quincy, Massachusetts
Laid down	20 July 1953
Launched	24 October 1953
Commissioned	13 January 1955
Reclassified	Coastal Minesweeper, 7 February 1955
Stricken	1 May 1976
Identification	Hull symbol: AMS-191 Hull symbol: MSC-191
Fate	Transferred to Indonesia, 1971
Indonesia
Name	Pulau Atang
Acquired	1971
Identification	Hull symbol: M-721
Fate	Sold for scrap, 1 September 1976
General characteristics [1]
Class and type	Bluebird-class minesweeper
Displacement	290 long tons (290 t)
Length	144 ft 3 in (43.97 m)
Beam	28 ft (8.5 m)
Draft	9 ft (2.7 m)
Installed power	4 × Packard 600 hp (450 kW) diesel engines 2,400 hp (1,800 kW)
Propulsion	2 × screws
Speed	13 kn (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Complement	39
Armament	1 × twin 20 mm (0.8 in) Oerlikon cannons anti-aircraft (AA) mount

USS Frigate Bird (AMS/MSC-191) was a Bluebird-class minesweeper acquired by the US Navy for clearing coastal minefields.

The second ship in the Navy to be named Frigate Bird, she was laid down 20 July 1953, as AMS-191; launched 24 October 1953, by Quincy Adams Yacht Yard, Inc., Quincy, Massachusetts; sponsored by Mrs. Matthew Gushing; and commissioned 13 January 1955. She was reclassified MSC-191 on 7 February 1955.^[2]

Joining Mine Force, Atlantic Fleet, at Charleston, South Carolina, 21 February 1955, Frigate Bird began a program of US East Coast and Caribbean training and experimental operations which continued through 1960. Among her activities were amphibious exercises on the beaches near Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, surveying ocean currents, testing a new type of can buoy, and taking part in fleet exercises of various types. From July 1958, she was homeported at Little Creek, Virginia, and served at frequent intervals with the Operational Development Force.^[2] This minesweeper also participated in the Cuban Blockade in 1962.^{[citation needed]}

Frigate Bird was transferred to Indonesia in 1971, and renamed Pulau Atang (M-721); struck from the US Naval Vessel Register, 1 May 1976; and, disposed of through the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service for scrap, 1 September 1976.^[1]

Citations

• Photo gallery of USS Frigate Bird (AMS/MSC-191) at NavSource Naval History