USS ''Esteem'' (AM-438/MSO-438) was an acquired by the
U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.
The first ship to be named ''Esteem'' by the Navy, ''AM-438'' was launched 20 December 1952 by Martinolich Shipbuilding Co.,
San Diego, California; sponsored by Mrs. C. H. Davis; reclassified ''MSO-438'', 7 February 1955; and commissioned 10 September 1955.
Deployed to Persian Gulf from 1987 to 1990 under President Reagan's direction to protect the world's oil supply from the threat of Iranian mines (the "
Tanker War
The Tanker War was a protracted series of armed skirmishes between Iran and Iraq against merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz from 1984 to 1988. The conflict was a part of the larger Iran–Iraq War.
Background
Prior to 1 ...
"). Participated in Operation
EARNEST WILL.
West Coast and Far East operations
''Esteem'' sailed out of
Long Beach, California, her first home port, for training in mine warfare and minesweeping exercises along the
U.S. West Coast until 4 March 1957, when she departed for her first tour of duty with the
U.S. 7th Fleet
The Seventh Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy. It is headquartered at U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka, in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It is part of the United States Pacific Fleet. At present, it is the largest of th ...
in the
Far East. Along with visiting Japanese and Korean ports and
Hong Kong, she exercised with the mines of the navies of the
Republic of China
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...
and the
Republic of Korea, aiding in the training of friendly forces in new techniques.
Returning to Long Beach in September 1957, ''Esteem'' resumed her west coast operations for the next year, then sailed 6 October 1960 for exercises with the
Royal Canadian Navy off
Nootka Sound,
British Columbia. During the next month, she
circumnavigated
Vancouver Island, and visited several Canadian ports, returning to Long Beach 5 November.
During her 1961-62 tour of duty in the Far East, she again exercised with ships of the Chinese Navy, and also visited
Bangkok, Thailand, to train with the Royal
Thai navy
The Royal Thai Navy ( Abrv: RTN, ทร.; th, กองทัพเรือไทย, ) is the naval warfare force of Thailand. Established in 1906, it was modernised by the Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse (1880–1923) who is known as ...
. In December 1961, she went to
Saigon, Vietnam
, population_density_km2 = 4,292
, population_density_metro_km2 = 697.2
, population_demonym = Saigonese
, blank_name = GRP (Nominal)
, blank_info = 2019
, blank1_name = – Total
, blank1_ ...
and worked with the Vietnamese navy. Based out of
Danang she provided patrol off the coast of Vietnam through May 1962. On June 27th of 1962, she began an overhaul which continued through most of the remainder of the year.
Final status
''Esteem'' was decommissioned in Seattle, Washington on 20 September 1991 and stricken on 30 September 1991. She was sold for scrapping in 2000.
Unit awards
17 unit awards,
including:
*
Navy Unit Commendation
The Navy Unit Commendation (NUC) is a United States Navy unit award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944.
History
Navy and U.S. Marine Corps commands may recommend any Navy or Marine Co ...
*
Combat Action Ribbon (x 2)
*
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (x 4)
*
Vietnam Service Medal (x 6)
*
Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation, Gallantry Cross Medal Color with Palm (x 3)
* SECNAV Letter of Commendation
References
External links
NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - Esteem (MSO 438) - ex-AM-438*
Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Esteem
Agile-class minesweepers
Ships built in San Diego
1952 ships