USS Redwing (AMS-200)

USS Redwing (AMS/MSC-200) was a Bluebird-class minesweeper in the United States Navy.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Redwing.
Shrike (AMS-201), Redwing (MSC-200), Hummingbird (MSC-192), Frigate Bird (MSC-191), and Falcon (MS-190) at Charleston, South Carolina
History
United States
NameRedwing
NamesakeRedwing
BuilderTampa Marine Company, Tampa, Florida
Laid down1 July 1953
Launched29 April 1954
Commissioned7 January 1955
Decommissioned16 June 1959
ReclassifiedCoastal Minesweeper, 7 February 1955
Stricken18 June 1959
Identification
FateTransferred to the Spanish Navy
Spain
NameSil
Acquired18 June 1959
Reclassified
Stricken25 September 2002
Identification
  • Hull sumbol: M-29
  • Hull sumbol: PVZ-55
  • Hull sumbol: M-27
  • Code letters: EBJD (M27)
FateRetired, 15 April 2003
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeBluebird-class minesweeper
Displacement335 long tons (340 t)
Length144 ft (44 m)
Beam28 ft (8.5 m)
Draft8 ft 4 in (2.54 m)
Installed power
Propulsion2 × screws
Speed14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Armament2 × 20 mm (0.8 in) Oerlikon cannons anti-aircraft (AA) mounts

Construction

Redwing was laid down 1 July 1953, by Tampa Marine Company, Tampa, Florida; launched 29 April 1954, as AMS-200; sponsored by Mrs. Courtney W. Campbell, wife of US Representative Campbell of Florida; and commissioned 7 January 1955.[2]

East Coast Assignment

Assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, Redwing arrived Charleston, South Carolina, 23 January 1955. Reclassified a coastal minesweeper, MSC-200 on 7 February, she underwent shakedown out of Key West, Florida, commencing 3 March. Returning via Mayport, Florida, to search for downed aircraft, she arrived Charleston, 20 April, and commenced minesweeping operations with various units of the Fleet.[2]

Redwing arrived Panama City, Florida, 5 July, and provided services to the Mine Defense Laboratory through 9 September. She then joined Tonawanda for special development operations at Key West, before returning to Charleston, 22 September. Redwing continued to operate out of Charleston, until January 1957, participating in minesweeping and amphibious training exercises as far south as Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and Vieques, Puerto Rico.[2]

She departed Charleston, 16 January, to provide services for the Naval Mine Warfare School at Yorktown, Virginia, and to operate under the Amphibious Training Command, Little Creek, Virginia. She then conducted surveys in Boston Channel, beginning 3 October, followed by exercises along the New Jersey coast in January 1958.[2]

Departing New York, 25 February, for exercises as far south as Key West, she returned to Boston, Massachusetts, 21 March, and for the next year provided services for the Destroyer Development Group in Narragansett Bay.[2]

Decommissioning

Redwing departed Boston, 26 February 1959, en route Norfolk, Virginia, for overhaul in preparation for transfer to Spain. Decommissioned at Norfolk 16 June 1959, she was struck from the Navy List and transferred to the Spanish Navy as Sil (M-29) effective 18 June 1959.[2]

Notes
    Citations
    1. Navsource.
    2. DANFS 2015.

    Bibliography

    Online resources

    • "Redwing II (AMS-200)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2017.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
    • "USS Redwing (MSC 200)". Navsource.org. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
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