U.S.S. AFFRAY

USS AFFRAY (MSO-511)

The second Affray (MSO-511) was laidd down on 24 August 1955 at Boothbay Harbor Maine by Frank L. Sample Jr. Inc.; launched on 18 December 1956; sponsored by Mrs. John A. Glick and commissioned on 8 December 1958 Lt. Comdr. Charles I. Williams in command.

After fitting out Affray devoted the first six months of 1959 to shakedown and type training. At the end of June she entered the Charleston Naval Shipyard for post-shakedown overhaul. Complicated by the addition of modernization alterations the repair period lasted into 1960. After completing final acceptance trials the minesweeper joined the Atlantic Fleet Mine Force and for almost a decade alternated between deployments to the Mediterranean with the 6th Fleet extended tours of duty in the West Indies and a variety of assignments out of her home port. Her duties during cruises to the Mediterranean and the West Indies consisted mainly of exercises and goodwill visits to various ports. Her operations out of Charleston took a number of forms. In October 1962! Affray provided support for a Project Mercury space shot. Later in 1966 she participated in a succession of tests for such organizations as the Bureau of Ships the Mine Warfare School the David Taylor Model Basin and the Naval Ordnance Laboratory Test Facility.

At the end of October 1969 the minesweeper concluded her final deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. Assignments in the West Indies however remained an important feature on her agenda as did support services for the Mine Warfare School and for Navy research and development activities. In 1973 Affray's assignment was changed significantly. On 1 July she received orders reassigning her to naval reserve training duty. On 1 October the warship reported for duty at her new home port Portland Maine. Since that time the minesweeper has served as a drill platform for naval reservists. In addition she has continued to participate in major exercises emphasizing minesweeping and amphibious warfare. On 1 October 1981 after being based eight years at Pompano Affray was reassigned to Newport R.I. As of the end of 1986 she was training naval reservists from her base at Newport.

[Note: The above USS AFFRAY (MSO-511) history may or may not contain text provided by crew members of the USS AFFRAY (MSO-511) or by other non-crew members and text from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]