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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

Cormorant (MSC 122)
ex-AMS-122

Bluebird Class Motor Minesweeper:

  • Laid down 5 February 1952 by Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA
  • Launched 8 June 1953
  • Commissioned USS Cormorant (AMS 122), 14 August 1953
  • Reclassified as a Coastal Minesweeper, MSC-122, 7 February 1955
  • Struck from the Naval Register 15 March 1974
  • Sold for scrap 1 December 1974 by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service.

    Specifications

  • Displacement 330 t.
  • Length 144'
  • Beam 28'
  • Draft 12'
  • Speed 13 kts.
  • Complement 39
  • Armament: One twin 20mm mount, two .50 cal. machine guns, and one 81mm mortar
  • Propulsion 600hp Packard diesel engines, two shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Cormorant (AMS 122)
    Cormorant 182k Bow view of the keel of the Comorant at Mare Island on 5 February 1952.
    U.S. Navy photo 11765-2-52    		 Darryl Baker
    Bluebird 372k Stern view of Bluebird (AMS 121) on the building ways at Mare Island just prior to launching on 11 May 1953. Cormorant is to her right.
    U.S. Navy photo 17483-5-53    		 Darryl Baker
    Bluebird 675k Bow view of Bluebird (AMS 121) on the building ways at Mare Island just prior to launching on 11 May 1953. Cormorant is to her left.
    U.S. Navy photo 17484-5-53    		 Darryl Baker
    Cormorant 380k Stern view of Comorant on the ways just prior to her launching at Mare Island on 8 June 1953.
    U.S. Navy photo 17750-6-53    		 Darryl Baker
    Cormorant 199k Mrs. I. H. Witthorne christenings the Comorant at Mare Island on 8 June 1953. From left to right are: Mrs. Peter C. Ting (Matron of Honor), Mrs. I. H. Witthorne (Sponsor) and RADM A. M. Morgan (Shipyard Commander).
    U.S. Navy photo 17765-6-53    		 Darryl Baker
    Cormorant 225k Commissioning ceremonies for Comorant at Mare Island on 14 August 1953.
    U.S. Navy photo 18414-8-53    		 Darryl Baker
    USS Cormorant (AMS 122)
    Cormorant 63k U.S. Navy photo Joe Radigan
    Cormorant 78k U.S. Navy photo from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships Original photo: Naval History and Heritage Command
    Replacement photo: Robert Hurstr
    Cormorant 93k 13 October 1953
    Off Mare Island
    U.S. Navy photo NY9-19033-10-53    		 Darryl Baker
    USS Cormorant (MSC 122)
    Cormorant 137k U.S. Navy photo from the October 1956 issue of All Hands magazine
    U.S. Navy photo from the 1958/1959 edition of Jane's Fighting Ships    		 Original photo: Joe Radigan
    Replacement photo: Robert Hurst
    Cormorant 255k 21 May 1958
    Ships History    		 Darryl Baker
    Cormorant 404k
    Commanding Officers
    01LT Frank Aloysius Mitchell, USNR14 August 1953 - January 1955
    02LT Daniel Austin Lewis, USNJanuary 1955 - December 1955
    03LT William Henry Rowden, USN - Retired as Vice AdmiralDecember 1955 - May 1957
    04LT Romand Logan Sharrah, USNMay 1957 - 10 August 1959
    05LT Joseph John Wachtel, USN10 August 1959 - 6 September 1961
    06LT Paul Gibson Crawford, USN6 September 1961 - 14 August 1963
    07LT Samuel Arlon Tish, USN14 August 1963 - 2 December 1963
    08LT George Wilmot Davis, Jr., USN - Retired as Vice Admiral2 December 1963
    12LCDR Scott Laidlaw, USN1970
    View the Cormorant (MSC 122)
    DANFS History entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Website
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Naval Minewarfare Association
    Association of Minemen
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Mine Warfare Ship Photo Index Back To The Motor Minesweeper (AMS) Photo Index Back to the Coastal Minesweeper (MSC) Photo Index
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    This page created and maintained by Joseph M. Radigan
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