USS Constant (AM-427)

USS Constant, (AM-427/MSO-427) was an Aggressive class minesweeper vessel in the United States Navy.

"Constant" was laid down on 16 August 1951 at Fulton Shipyard, Antioch, California and launched on 14 February 1953. She was commissioned as "Constant", AM-427) on 8 September 1954 and later reclassified as an Ocean Minesweeper MSO-427 on 7 February 1955.

Pacific Ocean operations

"Constant" operated on the west coast until she cleared Long Beach, California, 4 January 1956 for Pearl Harbor and Yokosuka, Japan, arriving 4 February. She joined in amphibious exercises at Iwo Jima, made repairs to cables and conducted minesweeping and local operations from her base at Sasebo until 28 March. Between 2 April and 19 May, she sailed in training exercises with naval forces of the Republic of China based on Kaohsiung, Taiwan. She returned to Sasebo 20 April to resume operations in Japanese waters until 19 May, when she cleared Yokosuka, Japan, for Long Beach, California, arriving 15 June.

Stateside Overhaul

After overhaul and west coast operations, "Constant" sailed from Long Beach, California, 2 June 1958, for Sasebo and duty in minesweeping off Okinawa, as well as other local operations from 3 July to 30 August. She stood by at Taiwan from 2 September until 27 October during the Quemoy Crisis, then called at Hong Kong, before returning to Japan. She cleared Yokosuka, Japan, 12 December for Long Beach, California, arriving 6 January 1959. Through the remainder of 1959, and the first half of 1960, she operated locally from Long Beach. On 31 August "Constant" sailed for duty in the Far East, where she remained into 1961.

Decommissioning

"Constant" was decommissioned, 30 September 1992; struck from the Naval Register, 9 March 1994; sold for scrapping to Crowley Marine, removal date 29 September 1999; scrapped, 1 April 2001.

References

ee also

* List of United States Navy ships
* Minelayer
* minesweeper
* Minesweeping

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c13/constant-ii.htm Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships - Constant II]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/02427.htm NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - AM / MSO-427 Constant]
* [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/MSO427.htm NVR - MSO-427]