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

Cormorant (MSC 122)
ex-Cormorant (AMS 122)

Bluebird Class Motor Minesweeper:

  • Laid down 5 February 1952 by Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA
  • Launched 8 June 1953
  • Commissioned USS Cormorant (AMS 122), 14 August 1953
  • Reclassified as a Coastal Minesweeper, MSC-122, 7 February 1955
  • Struck from the Naval Register 15 March 1974
  • Sold for scrap 1 December 1974 by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service.

    Specifications

  • Displacement 330 t.
  • Length 144'
  • Beam 28'
  • Draft 12'
  • Speed 13 kts.
  • Complement 39
  • Armament: One twin 20mm mount, two .50 cal. machine guns, and one 81mm mortar
  • Propulsion 600hp Packard diesel engines, two shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    AMS-122
    Cormorant 182k Bow view of the keel of the Comorant at Mare Island on 5 February 1952
    U.S. Navy photo 11765-2-52    		 Darryl Baker
    Bluebird 372k Stern view of Bluebird (AMS 121) on the building ways at Mare Island just prior to launching on 11 May 1953. Cormorant is to her right
    U.S. Navy photo 17483-5-53
    Bluebird 675k Bow view of Bluebird (AMS 121) on the building ways at Mare Island just prior to launching on 11 May 1953. Cormorant is to her left
    U.S. Navy photo 17484-5-53
    Cormorant 380k Stern view of Comorant on the ways just prior to her launching at Mare Island on 8 June 1953
    U.S. Navy photo 17750-6-53
    Cormorant 498k 8 June 1953
    Matron of Honor Mrs. Peter C. Ting and Sponsor Mrs. I. H. Witthorne at the launching of Cormorant at Mare Island
    U.S. Navy photo 17758-6-53 from the files of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum
    Cormorant 199k Mrs. I. H. Witthorne christening the Comorant at Mare Island on 8 June 1953. From left to right are: Mrs. Peter C. Ting (Matron of Honor), Mrs. I. H. Witthorne (Sponsor) and RADM A. M. Morgan (Shipyard Commander)
    U.S. Navy photo 17765-6-53
    Cormorant 481k 8 June 1953
    Cormorant near the end of the ways at her launching at Mare Island
    U.S. Navy photo 17766-6-53 from the files of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum
    Cormorant 270k 8 June 1953
    Christening bottle presentation to the ship’s sponsor Mrs. I. H. Witthorne by her husband, Master Pipefitter I. H. Witthorne at the launching of the Cormorant at Mare Island
    U.S. Navy photo 17768-6-53 from the files of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum
    USS Cormorant (AMS 122)
    Cormorant 29k Namesake: Cormorant - A genus of web-footed sea birds Tommy Trampp
    Photo added 9 March 2020
    Cormorant 225k Commissioning ceremonies for Comorant at Mare Island on 14 August 1953
    U.S. Navy photo 18414-8-53    		 Darryl Baker
    Cormorant 63k U.S. Navy photo Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory)
    Cormorant 78k U.S. Navy photo from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships Original photo: Naval History and Heritage Command
    Replacement photo: Robert Hurst
    Cormorant 93k 13 October 1953
    Off Mare Island
    U.S. Navy photo NY9-19033-10-53    		 Darryl Baker
    USS Cormorant (MSC 122)
    Cormorant 137k U.S. Navy photo from the October 1956 issue of All Hands magazine
    U.S. Navy photo from the 1958/1959 edition of Jane's Fighting Ships    		 Original photo: Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory)
    Replacement photo: Robert Hurst
    Cormorant 255k 21 May 1958
    Ships History    		 Darryl Baker
    Cormorant 404k
    Commanding Officers
    01LT Frank Aloysius Mitchell, USNR14 August 1953 - January 1955
    02LT Daniel Austin Lewis, USNJanuary 1955 - December 1955
    03LT William Henry Rowden, USN - USNA Class of 1952
    Awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal and the Joint Service Commendation Medal - Retired as Vice Admiral    		December 1955 - May 1957
    04LT Romand Logan Sharrah, USN - USNA Class of 1953May 1957 - 10 August 1959
    05LT Joseph John Wachtel, USN10 August 1959 - 6 September 1961
    06LT Paul Gibson Crawford, USN6 September 1961 - 14 August 1963
    07LT Samuel Arlon Tish, USN14 August 1963 - 2 December 1963
    08LT George Wilmot Davis, Jr., USN - Retired as Vice Admiral2 December 1963
    09LCDR Scott Laidlaw, USN1970
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory)
    View the Cormorant (MSC 122)
    DANFS History entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Website
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    This page created and maintained by Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory) & David Wright
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