MSO: Many-Ships-in-One

IF YOU WERE to conduct a survey in WestPac on the variety of jobs performed by a single ship, you'd probably be swamped with record claims -so, it's likely you would end up pigeonholing the idea.

In the meantime, here's a report which would surely rank high among the contenders if such a survey were taken. It comes from Mine Division 91 comprised of USS Conflict (MSO 426), Persistent (MSO 491), Dynamic (MSO 432), Endurance (MSO 435), and Implicit (MSO 455), all homeported in Long Beach.

The division claims (tongue-in-cheek, we're sure) while on its recent Far East tour that its minesweepers acquired these additional ship profiles: oiler, water lighter, tugboat, stores and refrigerator, repair, hospital, search and salvage, communications relay, command control, hydrographic survey, replenishment lifeguard, gunfire support, patrol and boarding vessel.

Tongue-in-cheek or not, that's a mouthful.

Nevertheless, it represents the variety of tasks required of MinDiv 91 while a member of the Market Time Patrol.

TAKING A LOOK - Minemen using whaleboat inspect a Vietnamese junk.

THIS, IT SEEMS, is characteristic of all the smaller ships operating with the patrol, which vigilantly tries to stop the coastal flow of contraband by junks and boats to Viet Cong forces.

To do this, Market Time employs destroyer escorts, 82-foot Coast Guard cutters, 50-foot PCF Swift patrol boats, and the 165-foot minesweepers.

These U.S. units join the South Vietnamese junk Force, but, because they are few in number the members of the patrol are often required to play many roles, including those assignments mentioned before.

This is primarily due to the wide area they must patrol which stretches 12 miles to sea and runs the full length of Vietnam's 1000-mile coastline. Within this area one can count from 4000 to 5000 boats and junks daily, most of which are used for fishing, but any number of which could be unfriendly.

To ascertain their legality, the patrol will often board and inspect the passengers and cargo of suspected junks. If contraband or troops are discovered, Vietnamese liaison officers who ride in all U. S. craft, turn them over to the custody of Vietnam's junk Force.

In order to counter the enemy's infiltration efforts, the patrol ships and craft often spend long tours on station.

FOR INSTANCE, Dynamic spent 74 days on one patrol. She was replenished underway 27 times in order to sustain her operations which covered 9000 miles within the inspection zone.

And, there is always the possibility of hostile contact with the enemy.

Implicit was fired on by Viet Cong forces while cruising close to shore and was forced to retaliate with her 40mm, 30-and 50-caliber guns.

Another engagement resulted in the decoration of five men from Endurance. They were awarded medals for helping to destroy a Viet Cong coastal fortification which they approached in the ship's motor whaleboat. The five men attacked one flank of the enemy stronghold while Vietnamese junk Force sailors attacked the other. They held their position in the face of heavy enemy fire and relayed spotting information to their ship. Endurance was then able to silence the shore resistance with her guns from about 1000 yards.

These encounters are typical of the demands asked of Market Time minesweepers. But, by no means do they encompass all that is expected of them.

Today the minesweeper may serve as a mother ship for servicing and replenishing the needs of the Swift boats. Tomorrow, in addition to providing gunfire support to U. S. forces ashore, she might conduct a survey of her own - a hydrographic survey on shoreline depths.

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