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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

MSO-478
ex-AM-478


AM-478 was built for Portugal
AM-478 Class Fleet Minesweeper:

  • Laid down 26 August 1953 as AM-478 by the Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, WA
  • Launched and delivered 30 April 1954
  • Sponsored by Mrs. D. F. Smith
  • Reclassified by U. S. Navy as an Ocean Minesweeper, MSO-478, 7 February 1955
  • Completed 24 April 1955
  • Transferred to Portugal 26 April 1955 and named NRP São Jorge (M 478)
  • Reclassified M-415
  • Decommissioned 2 April 1973 and scrapped at Malaga, Spain.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 665 t.
  • Length 172'
  • Beam 35'
  • Draft 10'
  • Speed 13.5 kts.
  • Complement 39
  • Armament: One 40mm mount and two .50 cal. machine guns
  • Propulsion: General Motors 1,600shp diesel engines, two shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    AM-478
    MSO-478 461k 30 April 1954
    Mr. and Mrs. David F. Smith, Bellingham Shipyards chief engineer and ships sponsor    		 Fred Smith
    MSO-478 721k 30 April 1954
    Photo from a local Bellingham newspaper
    MSO-478 529k 30 April 1954
    After launching
    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 right is AM-477, later the French minesweeper Vinh Long (M 619)
    National Archives photo 6933496    		 Robert Hurst
    NRP São Jorge (M 478)
    MSO-478 25k Namesake: São Jorge is an island situated in the central group of the Azores archipelago and part of the autonomous region of Portugal Tommy Trampp
    Photo added 3 March 2020
    MSO-478 341k c. 1956
    Portuguese Navy photo from Janes Fighting Ships    		 Robert Hurst
    NRP São Jorge (M 415)
    MSO-478 72k David Wright
    MSO-478 64k c. 1960
    Portuguese Navy photo from the 1960/1961 edition of Janes Fighting Ships    		 Robert Hurst
    MSO-478 157k c. 1970
    Portuguese Navy photo
    There is no DANFS history available for MSO-478
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    102 Minesweepers (MSO) Oceangoing Minesweepers
    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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