For other ships with the same name, see USS Excel.
USS Excel (MSO-439) was an Agile-classminesweeper: laid down, 9 February 1953 as AM-439 at the Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana; launched, 25 September 1953; reclassified an Ocean Minesweeper (non-magnetic) MSO-439, 7 February 1955; commissioned USS Excel (MSO-439), 24 February 1955.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation, Secretary of the Navy Energy Conservation Award, Navy Reserve Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Minesweeping "M" Excellence Award
USS Excel arrived at Long Beach, California, her home port, 4 June 1955, and began operating along the west coast in training and exercises. In 1956, and again in 1959, she served in the Far East with the U.S. 7th Fleet, visiting Japan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Korea, and Taiwan, and exercising with ships of friendly navies. Through 1960 she continued to sail out of Long Beach, California, for operations and cruises along the west coast.
Minediv 93 went on a WesPac during the summer of 1961. On 27 August 1961, Commander Mine Division 93, with ocean minesweepers USS Leader (MSO 490) and USS Excel (MSO 439), made the first official visit by ships of the US Navy to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. The only time US Navy ships visited the capital until USS Gary visited in February 2007.
During the Vietnam war USS Excel was involved in Operation Market Time which interdicted arms smuggling from North Vietnam to the many rivers and estuaries of South Vietnam by everything that could float, now considered the most successful naval operation of the Vietnam war, although it led to the vast improvement of the Ho Chi Minh trail.
USS Excel was sent to the reserve fleet in the 1970s and was sent to its new home port, Treasure Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay.
Rear Admiral Albert T. Church III served as captain of USS Excel during the late 1970s when he was a lieutenant commander.
Captain Gerald F. Deconto was the Engineering Officer of Excel during the early 1980s when he was a newly graduated ensign; Deconto was killed at the Pentagon on 11 September 2001.
Decommissioningedit
USS Excel was decommissioned, 30 September 1992; struck from the Naval Register, 28 March 1994; laid up in the Reserve Fleet; sold for scrapping to Crowley Marine, January 2000.
This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.
excel, other, ships, with, same, name, excel, excel, agile, class, minesweeper, laid, down, february, 1953, higgins, corp, orleans, louisiana, launched, september, 1953, reclassified, ocean, minesweeper, magnetic, february, 1955, commissioned, excel, february,. For other ships with the same name see USS Excel USS Excel MSO 439 was an Agile class minesweeper laid down 9 February 1953 as AM 439 at the Higgins Corp New Orleans Louisiana launched 25 September 1953 reclassified an Ocean Minesweeper non magnetic MSO 439 7 February 1955 commissioned USS Excel MSO 439 24 February 1955 History United States NameUSS Excel AM 439 MSO 439 BuilderHiggins Corp New Orleans Louisiana Laid down9 February 1953 Launched25 September 1953 Commissioned24 February 1955 Decommissioned30 September 1992 ReclassifiedMSO 439 7 February 1955 Stricken28 March 1994 Honours andawardsArmed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation Secretary of the Navy Energy Conservation Award Navy Reserve Sea Service Deployment Ribbon Minesweeping M Excellence Award FateSold for scrap 2000 General characteristics Class and typeAgile class minesweeper Displacement775 tons Length172 ft 52 43 m Beam36 ft 10 97 m Draught10 ft 3 05 m PropulsionFour Packard ID1700 diesel engines replaced by four Waukasha Motors Co diesels two shafts two controllable pitch propellers Speed14 knots Complement74 Armament1 40 mm 2 50 cal 12 7 mm mg Contents 1 West Coast operations 2 Decommissioning 3 References 4 External linksWest Coast operations editUSS Excel arrived at Long Beach California her home port 4 June 1955 and began operating along the west coast in training and exercises In 1956 and again in 1959 she served in the Far East with the U S 7th Fleet visiting Japan the Philippines Hong Kong Korea and Taiwan and exercising with ships of friendly navies Through 1960 she continued to sail out of Long Beach California for operations and cruises along the west coast Minediv 93 went on a WesPac during the summer of 1961 On 27 August 1961 Commander Mine Division 93 with ocean minesweepers USS Leader MSO 490 and USS Excel MSO 439 made the first official visit by ships of the US Navy to Phnom Penh the capital of Cambodia The only time US Navy ships visited the capital until USS Gary visited in February 2007 During the Vietnam war USS Excel was involved in Operation Market Time which interdicted arms smuggling from North Vietnam to the many rivers and estuaries of South Vietnam by everything that could float now considered the most successful naval operation of the Vietnam war although it led to the vast improvement of the Ho Chi Minh trail USS Excel was sent to the reserve fleet in the 1970s and was sent to its new home port Treasure Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay Rear Admiral Albert T Church III served as captain of USS Excel during the late 1970s when he was a lieutenant commander Captain Gerald F Deconto was the Engineering Officer of Excel during the early 1980s when he was a newly graduated ensign Deconto was killed at the Pentagon on 11 September 2001 Decommissioning editUSS Excel was decommissioned 30 September 1992 struck from the Naval Register 28 March 1994 laid up in the Reserve Fleet sold for scrapping to Crowley Marine January 2000 References editThis article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here This article includes information collected from theNaval Vessel Register which as a U S government publication is in the public domain The entry can be found here External links editNavSource Online Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive AM MSO 439 Excel Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Excel AM 439 amp oldid 1206654007, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
