USS Firm (MSO-444) underway in 1954
History
United States
NameUSS Firm
BuilderJ. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington
Laid down16 April 1952
Launched15 April 1953
Commissioned12 October 1954
Decommissioned5 July 1972
ReclassifiedMSO-444, 7 February 1955
FateTransferred to the Philippines, 17 July 1972
Acquiredreturned from Philippines, 1 July 1977
Stricken1 July 1977
FateSold for scrapping, 8 July 1977
History
Philippines
NameBRP Davao del Sur (PM-92)
Acquired17 July 1972
FateReturned to U.S., 1 July 1977
General characteristics
Class and typeAggressive-class minesweeper
Displacement620 long tons (630 t)
Length172 ft (52 m)
Beam36 ft (11 m)
Draft10 ft (3.0 m)
Speed10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement74
Armament1 × 40 mm gun 2 x .50 gun

USS Firm (AM-444/MSO-444) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper in the United States Navy.

Firm was launched 15 April 1953 by J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington; sponsored by Mrs. Joseph S. Martinac; and commissioned 12 October 1954. She was reclassified MSO-444 on 7 February 1955.

Service history

From her home post at Long Beach, California, headquarters for Mine Force, Pacific Fleet, Firm sailed for training and exercises along the west coast, interrupted during 1955 for her conversion to flagship for Mine Division 94. Between 1 March 1956 and 2 November 1956, and again between 3 November 1958 and 31 May 1959, she served in the Far East with the 7th Fleet, exercising with ships of the Korean, Chinese Nationalist, and Thai navies, as well as visiting a wide number of Oriental ports and taking part in fleet training schedules. Through 1962, Firm continued her west coast operations out of Long Beach.

Beginning in April 1965, USS Firm was assigned to Operation Market Time, a program instituted to curb the Communist infiltration of arms and other contraband into South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. As a member of Mine Division 72, MD-91 and MD-33, usually serving as flagship, Firm made five deployments to Vietnam over a seven-year period (until 1971), performing its duties with distinction and earning the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, two Navy Meritorious Unit Commendations, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.

Firm was decommissioned 5 July 1972. She was transferred to the Philippines as BRP Davao del Sur (PM-92) on 17 July 1972. Returned to United States custody on 1 July 1977, the ship was struck from the Naval Vessel Register the same day, and on 8 July sold for scrapping to Ming Hing and Co., Kowloon, Hong Kong.

References

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