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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

MSO-477
ex-AM-477


AM-477 was built for France.

AM-480 Class Fleet Minesweeper:

  • Laid down 10 June 1953 as AM-477 by the Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, WA
  • Launched 5 February 1954
  • Sponsored by Mrs. C. L. Wicker
  • Delivered in December 1954
  • Completed 5 January 1955
  • Reclassified by U. S. Navy as an Ocean Minesweeper, MSO-477, 7 February 1955
  • Transferred to France as Vinh Long (M 619), 14 April 1955
  • Commissioned 15 April 1955
  • Decommissioned 1 June 1988
  • Scrapped in 1992.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 750 t.
  • Length 171'
  • Beam 35'
  • Draft 10' 4"
  • Speed 15 kts.
  • Complement 39
  • Armament: One 40mm mount and two .50 cal. machine guns
  • Propulsion: Two 800shp General Motors diesel engines, two shafts (fitted with a bow thruster between 1975 - 1979).
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image
    Size Image Description Source
    AM-477
    MSO-498 163k c. 1954
    Fitting out at Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, WA
    In the foreground is AM-498, later the Norwegian Lagen (M 950) and to the left is AM-478, later the Portuguese minesweeper NRP São Jorge (M 415)
    National Archives photo 6933496
    Robert Hurst
    Photo added 10 August 2019
    Vinh Long (M 619)
    MSO-477 31k Gilles Obellianne
    MSO-477 64k Courtesy of Jean-Yves Turquetil Robert Hurst
    MSO-477 92k Toulon, France
    Courtesy of Michel Guigard
    MSO-477 55k Toulon, France
    Courtesy of Michel Guigard
    MSO-477 53k Photo courtesy of Admiral M. Adam from the 1960/1961 edition of Janes Fighting Ships
    MSO-477 84k c. 1981
    Port Said, Egypt
    Inboard of the Sirius Class minesweepers, Capella (M 755) and Capricorne (M 737).
    Courtesy of Net Marine DR

    There is no DANFS history available for MSO-477.
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Association of Minemen
    Back to the Main Photo Index Back to the Mine Warfare Ship Photo Index Back to the Ocean Minesweeper (MSO) Photo Index

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    This page created and maintained by Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory) & Michael Mohl
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