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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive
Courtesy of Al Grazevich


Courtesy of Don McGrogan

Widgeon (MSC-208)
ex-AMS-208

Redwing Class Motor Minesweeper:

  • Laid down 3 May 1954 as AMS-208 by Bellingham Shipyards, Inc., Bellingham, WA
  • Launched 15 October 1954
  • Reclassified as a Coastal Minesweeper, MSC-208, 7 February 1955
  • Commissioned USS Widgeon (MSC-208), 16 November 1955
  • Decommissioned 10 October 1969 at Long Beach, CA and placed in service as a Naval Reserve Training Ship
  • Placed out of service and struck from the Navy Register 2 July 1973
  • Scrapped in June 1974.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 412 t.
  • Length 145'
  • Beam 28'
  • Draft 12'
  • Speed 12.8 kts.
  • Complement 40
  • Armament: One 20mm gun mount, two .50 cal. machine guns and one 81mm mortar
  • Propulsion: Two 880bhp General Motors 8-268A diesel engines, Snow and Knobstedt single reduction gear, two shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Widgeon 136k Namesake: Wigeons/Widgeons - A fresh water duck Tommy Trampp
    Photo added 15 February 2020
    Widgeon 68k Coming alongside Warbler (MSC 206) Paul Wamsley
    Warbler 169k Moored outboard of Warbler Anthony Mongi
    Warbler 60k C. 1962
    The ships of Mine Division 32. Warbler (MSC 206), Widgeon, Gannet (MSC 290), Whippoorwill (MSC 207) and Woodpecker (MSC 209)    		 Richard Miller, BMCS, USNR, Ret.
    Widgeon 124k c. 1969-70
    Operation "Market Time," off Vung Tau, Vietnam
    Coming alongside USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3) for replenishment    		 Photo by William P. Jones, MD, USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT Bruce Goodwin Stone, USN - USNA Class of 195016 November 1955 - 1957
    02LCDR Carl Thor Hanson, USN - USNA Class of 1950
    Awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with Combat V and the Meritorious Service Medal - Retired as Vice Admiral    		1957 - March 1959
    03LCDR George Wilmot Davis, Jr., USN - USNA Class of 1955
    Awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star and the Navy Commendation Medal - Retired as Vice Admiral    		1960
    04LCDR Arthur St. Clair Wright, USN - USNA Class of 19571962 - 17 January 1964
    05LT John Laverne Felderman, USN17 January 1964 - 21 July 1966
    06LT John Robert Dalrymple, Jr., USN - Awarded three Legions of Merit, the Bronze Star with Combat V, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V and the Combat Action Ribbon - Retired as Rear Admiral21 July 1966 - 18 October 1968
    07LT Julian Edward Minard, USN18 October 1968 - 10 October 1969
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler, Ron Reeves and Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory)
    View the Widgeon (MSC-208)
    DANFS History entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Website
    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 was created by Gary P. Priolo & maintained by Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory) & Michael Mohl

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