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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Bluebird (MSC 121)
ex-AMS-121

Bluebird Class Motor Minesweeper:

  • The third Bluebird was laid down 5 February 1952 at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA
  • Launched 11 May 1953
  • Commissioned USS Bluebird (AMS 121), 24 July 1953
  • Reclassified as a Coastal Minesweeper, MSC-121, 7 February 1955
  • Decommissioned 9 September 1968 and placed in service as a Reserve training ship at Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • Decommissioned 1 July 1971 at Charleston, SC
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet in December 1971 at Norfolk, VA
  • Struck from the Navy Register 2 January 1975
  • Disposed of 1 August 1979 through the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service for scrap
  • Sold for scrap to Oskco Edwards of Capistrano Beach, CA in September 1979.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 330 t.
  • Length 144' 3"
  • Beam 28'
  • Draft 12'
  • Speed 14 kts.
  • Complement 39
  • Armament: Two 20mm mounts, two .50 cal. machine guns and one 81mm mortar
  • Propulsion: Four 600hp Packard diesel engines, two shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Bluebird (AMS 121)
    Bluebird 27k Namesake: The bluebird is a small North American songbird Tommy Trampp
    Photo added 9 April 2020
    Bluebird 241k Keel laying ceremony for the Bluebird and Cormorant (AMS 122) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 5 February 1952. The honorary keel layers are from left to right are: John J. Hefferman, George H. Reeder, Raymond G. Johnson, & Alexander Thaanum.
    U.S. Navy photo 11760-2-52    		 Darryl Baker
    Bluebird 378k Bow view of Bluebird on the building ways at Mare Island on 5 February 1952
    U.S. Navy photo 11766-2-52
    Bluebird 509k c. February 1953
    Bluebird on the way at Mare Island in February 1953
    U.S. Navy photo 16116-2-53
    Bluebird 372k Stern view of Bluebird on the building ways at Mare Island just prior to launching on 11 May 1953. Cormorant (AM 122) is to her right.
    U.S. Navy photo 17483-5-53
    Bluebird 675k Bow view of Bluebird on the building ways at Mare Island just prior to launching on 11 May 1953. Cormorant (AM 122) is to her left.
    U.S. Navy photo 17484-5-53
    Bluebird 182k Mrs. George C. Demmon christens the Bluebird at Mare Island on 11 May 1953. From left to right are: Mrs. Richard T. Debruyn (Matron of Honor), Mrs. Demmon (Sponsor) and RADM A. M. Morgan (Shipyard Commander).
    U.S. Navy photo 17497-5-53
    USS Bluebird (AMS 121)
    Bluebird 162k Broadside, stern and bow views of Bluebird off south end of Mare Island on 29 September 1953
    U.S. Navy photos 18783-9-53, 18785-9-53 and 18786-9-53    		 Darryl Baker
    Bluebird 152k
    Bluebird 509k
    USS Bluebird (MSC 121)
    Bluebird 95k USN Minecraft Base, Charleston, SC. View of Pier Baker from Ashley River showing crowded mooring condition at pier
    U.S. Navy photo    		 Robert Hall
    Bluebird 93k c. 1955
    U.S. Navy photo from the 1956/1957 edition of Jane's Fighting Ships    		 Robert Hurst
    Bluebird 193k c. 1967
    U.S. Navy photo
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR Warren Curry Graham, Jr.,USN - USNA Class of 1948-B24 July 1953 - 12 August 1955
    02LTJG Louis Samuel Brackney, USN12 August 1955 - October 1957
    03LT Robert W. Comey, USNOctober 1957 - 1 July 1959
    04LT Paul Everett Treagy, Jr., USN - USNA Class of 19541 July 1959 - 20 May 1960
    05LT Eugene Thomas Polini, Jr., USN - USNA Class of 195420 May 1960 - 12 May 1961
    06LT Edwin Arthur Mozely, USN12 May 1961 - 12 October 1962
    07LT George Keith Gowans, Jr., USN12 October 1962 - 11 January 1964
    08LT James Allen Mace, USN11 January 1964 - 12 July 1965
    09LT Robert Cecil Johnson, Jr., USN12 July 1965 - 10 June 1967
    10LCDR John Michael Miller, Jr., USN - USNA Class of 195610 June 1967 - 7eptember 1968
    11LT Clark M. Taylor, USN7 September 1968 - 8 August 1969
    12LT Chester George Roberts, USN8 August 1969 - 1 July 1971
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler, Ron Reeves and Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory)
    View the Bluebird (MSC 121)
    DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command website
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