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AM - 446: dp. 620; l. 172'; b. 36'; dr. 10'; s. 16 k.; cpl. 14; a. 1 40 mm.; cl. Agile) Fortify (AM-446)
wan launched 14 February 1953 by Seattle Shipbuilding and Drydocking Co., Seattle, Wash.; sponsored by Mrs. Donald Scobie;
and commissioned 16 July 1954, Lieutenant R. Juarez in command.
Fortify first arrived at Long Beach, Calif., her home port, 3 August 1954, and in December became flagship
of Mine Division 92. Fortify was reclassified MSO-446 on 7 February 1955. During her first tour of duty in the Far East, from
1 July 1955 to 17 February 1956, Fortify took part in exercises with Japanese, Korean, and Chinese minesweepers, as well as
fleet operations in Japanese waters. Her training activities and participation in exercises along the west coast prepared
her for additional tours of duty in the Far East in 1958 and 1960.
West Pac Cruise 1960. Sasebo, Japan; Operations with
Republic of China Navy (Taiwan); Subic Bay, PI;
Fukaoka,
Japan; Hong Kong.
West Pac Cruise 1962. Sasebo, Japan; Pre "Market
Time" patrol off Da Nang VN (assisting
South VN Navy
stopping and inspecting sanipans coming South along VN
coast) ; Hong Kong; Guam; Kauai HI "Operation Dominic"
(keep
fishing boat away from Kauai rocket site.
Rockets to sample high altitude air quality during
atom burst)
The Minesweeper USS Fortify MSO-446 participated in the Johnson Island Phase II of Operation Dominic
as a unit of Task Element 8.3.2.4 (Surface Recovery) It's primary mission was to recover scientifically instrumented nose
cones in the Kauai operating area. Forces normally assigned included 4 - 6 P2V's, 4 - 6 HUS Helicopters, 2 (ATF/ARS/MSO) recovery
ships. For shot Calamity (27 October, 1962) Fortify participated as a surveillance unit. Surface units conducted surveillance
patrols of designated areas in order to detect, warn, and track ships, submarines, and aircraft within the limits of the established
danger areas. The ship did not have to activate it's water wash down system during Operation Dominic. Fortify had 73 crew
members badged with film type dosimeters.
Jun 1966 MARKET TIME units participated in four search and rescue operations during June. On 6 June, USS FORTIFY
(MSO 446), USS DYNAMIC (MSO 432), PCF 45 and PCF 51 conducted SAR operations following a collision between two Vietnamese
civilian junks off Ban Than Point just north of Nha Trang. Five survivors were recovered. On 17 June, FORTIFY and PCF 48 conducted
SAR operations at the scene ofa Navy C-130 crash north of Cam Ranh Bay. No survivors were found. On 27 June, PCFs and LCPLs
from MIUWS 12 conducted an unsuccessful search for a man lost overboard from USS CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.
On 17 June 1966, Lt. Cmdr. Ralph B. Cobbs, pilot; Lt. JG Donald E. Siegwarth, co-pilot; Lt. JG Edward L.
Romig, navigator; ADJ2 Curtis D. Collette, flight mechanic/jet engines; YN2 Jack I. Dempsey, radio operator; ADR2 Stanley
J. Freng, flight mechanic/reciprocating engines; Lt. JG Clement O. Stevenson, Jr., crewman; and AN M. J. Savoy, crewman; comprised
the crew of a C130E aircraft conducting an operational airlift mission. The mission originated at Moffett Naval Air Station,
California; proceeded to Kadena Airbase, Okinawa, Japan; then to Cam Ranh Bay Airbase, South Vietnam. On the return flight,
they departed Cam Ranh Bay Airbase at 0215 hours with its crew of eight and 6 passengers all members of the US Air Force.
They were: 1st Lt. Claiborne P. McCall, Capt. Connie M. Gravitte, SSgt. Oley N. Adams, SSgt. Robert A. Cairns, SSgt. Gene
K. Hess and AFC Larry E. Washburn.
Roughly 20 minutes after takeoff, the USS Fortify, a US Navy (gunboat), witnessed an explosion at approximately
1000 feet above the water with a subsequent explosion upon impacting the water. Debris and fuel remaining on the surface of
the water after the crash burned for approximately 30 minutes. The location of the crash was 43 miles northeast of Nha Trang,
16 miles south-southeast of Tuy Hoa, and 3 miles east of Lang Thuong, Phu Yen Province, South Vietnam.
The USS Fortify was on the scene within minutes and immediately initiated rescue efforts, to include coordinating
both surface and air search activities. The search operation was successful in recovering the remains of Claiborne P. McCall
and Clement O. Stevenson, Jr.; however, they were unable to locate any trace of the rest of the crew and passengers. At the
time the extensive search effort was terminated on 21 June 1966, the remaining twelve men were listed Killed in Action/Body
Not Recovered.
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| Courtesy of Dana J.Brown OS3 |
In January 1973 the last provision of the cease-fire agreement that directly related to the Navy entailed
removal of the U.S. sea mines laid along the North Vietnamese coast and the Mark 36 Destructors dropped into inland waterways.
On 28 January, following months of extensive preparation and training, the Seventh Fleet's Mine Countermeasures Force (Task
Force 78), led by Rear Admiral Brian McCauley, sailed from Subic Bay and shaped course for a staging area off Haiphong. On
6 February, one day after Commander Task Force 78 met in the city to coordinate actions with his North Vietnamese opposite,
Colonel Hoang Huu Thai, Operation End Sweep got underway. Ocean minesweepers Engage (MSO 433), Force (MSO) 445), Fortify (MSO
446), and Impervious (MSO 449) swept areas off the coast near Haiphong while being escorted by guided missile frigate Worden
(DLG 18) and destroyer Epperson (DD 719). A total of 10 ocean minesweepers, 9 amphibious ships, 6 fleet tugs, 3 salvage ships,
and 19 destroyer types served with Task Force 78 during the six months of Operation End Sweep.
LINKS
CREW ROSTER
Fortify@military.com
USS LUCID PROJECT
EST June 02 2006
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