- USS Esteem (AM-438)
USS "Esteem" (AM-438/MSO-438) was an "Aggressive"-class minesweeper acquired by the
U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.The first ship to be named "Esteem" by the Navy, "AM-438" was launched
20 December 1952 by Martinolich Shipbuilding Co.,San Diego, California ; sponsored by Mrs. C. H. Davis; reclassified "MSO-438",7 February 1955 ; and commissioned10 September 1955 , Lieutenant G. W. Bird in command.West Coast operations
"Esteem" sailed out of
Long Beach, California , her home port, for training in mine warfare and minesweeping exercises along theU.S. West Coast until4 March 1957 , when she departed for her first tour of duty with theU.S. 7th Fleet in theFar East . Along with visitingJapan ese andKorea n ports andHong Kong , she exercised with minecraft of the navies of theRepublic of China and theRepublic of Korea , aiding in the training of friendly forces in new techniques. Returning to Long Beach in September1957 , "Esteem" resumed her west coast operations for the next year, then sailed6 October 1958 for exercises with theRoyal Canadian Navy offNootka Sound ,British Columbia . During the next month, shecircumnavigate dVancouver Island , and visited several Canadian ports, returning to Long Beach5 November .During her
1959 -60 tour of duty in the Far East, she again exercised with ships of the Chinese Navy, and also visitedBangkok, Thailand , to train with the RoyalThai navy . On27 June 1960 she began an overhaul which continued through most of the remainder of the year.Final status
"Esteem" was decommissioned and stricken
20 September 1991 . She was sold for scrapping in2000 .References
See also
*
List of United States Navy ships External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/e5/esteem.htm Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships - "Esteem"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/02438.htm NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - Esteem (MSO 438) - ex-AM-438]
* [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/MSO438.htm NVR - MSO-438]
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