USS Phoebe (MSC-199)

USS Phoebe (MSC-199) was an "Bluebird"-class motor minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for clearing coastal minefields.

The second "Phoebe" to be so-named by the Navy, "AMS-199" was laid down by the Harbor Boat Building Co., Terminal Island, California, 26 February 1953, launched 21 August 1954, sponsored by Mrs. Anne Elizabeth Gotch; reclassified MSC-l99 on 7 February 1955; and commissioned 29 April 1955, Lt. George D. Ferguson in command.

Service as training ship

After training out of Long Beach, California, and San Diego, California, "Phoebe" served as a schoolship for the prospective crew of "Whippoorwill" (MSC-207) in early summer and in September, of "Widgeon" (MSC-208).

Operations in the Far East

"Phoebe" became flagship of Mine Division 31, Mine Squadron 3, on 6 January 1956. She departed Long Beach 4 March for the Far East, touched the Hawaiian Islands, and arrived Yokosuka, Japan, 4 April. Six days later she shifted to Sasebo, her permanent base of operations. A unit of Mine Squadron 3, "Phoebe" spent the next eight years in a rigorous schedule of minehunting and warfare tactics with the U.S. 7th Fleet. Much of her time was taken for maneuvers with minesweeping units of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, the Chinese Nationalist Navy, the Republic of Korea Navy, and the Republic of the Philippines Navy. This duty took her to the principal ports of Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Okinawa, and the Philippines.

Early 1964 was spent operating out of Japan and Okinawa In July "Phoebe" sailed for Subic Bay, the South China Sea, and Vietnam, returning to Subic Bay in August. A U.S.-Korean mine exercise was held in October, and a U.S.-Japanese mine exercise in December.

Supporting Operation Market Time

"Phoebe" spent five months of 1965 on "Operation Market Time" in Vietnam. She spent the beginning, middle, and end of the year in Japan. During the year she steamed 24,000 miles, reaching as far from her homeport as Bangkok.

In March 1967 "Phoebe" resumed "Market Time" operations in Vietnam waters. Most of the rest of the year she operated out of Sasebo, with a combined U.S.-Republic of China mine exercise in September, and more "Market Time" service in November.

Boarding junks and other operations

In February 1968 "Phoebe" took part in a combined U.S.-Japanese mine exercise. Most of the rest of the year she operated out of Sasebo, with a "Market Time" patrol in September and October, during which she boarded 201 junks and a U.S.-Korean mine exercise in November. As of late 1969 "Phoebe" still operated out of Sasebo, Japan.

Decommissioning

"Phoebe" was decommissioned, (date unknown), struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1975, and was disposed of through the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service for scrap, 1 September 1976.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* Minesweeper

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/05199.htm NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - Phoebe (AMS / MSC 199)]