Lucid, MSO-458: History

From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships Lucid Bright, shining.

MSO-458: dp. 620; I. 172'; b. 36'; 10'; s. 15 k.; cpl. 65; a. 1 40mm.; cl. Aggressive

The second Lucid (AM-458) was laid down by Higgins Inc. Shipyard, New Orleans, La., 16 March 1953; launched 14 November 1953; sponsored by Mrs. Mary J. Barrow; reclassified MSO-458 on 7 February 1955; and commissioned 4 May 1955, Lt. J. H. Graham in command.

After shakedown in the Caribbean, Lucid sailed for the Pacific, arriving Long Beach 22 August. For the next 13 months, she performed minewarfare exercises on the west coast, then sailed on her first western Pacific tour 1 October 1958. During the period 1956 to 5 November 1963, Lucid sailed on four WestPac cruises and while there performed operations with the mighty 7th Fleet. This bastion of strength in the Far East served notice to the Communists that America would not tolerate threats to the peace and stability of the free countries of Asia. In addition to exercises with the 7th Fleet, the minesweeper participated in good will programs in the countries she visited. The time between WestPac cruises was spent in mine countermeasure exercises off the southern California coast

Throughout 1964 Lucid continued training exercises off the west coast, then departed Long Beach 5 April 1965 on her fifth WestPac cruise. Arriving Subic Bay, Philippine Islands. 24 May, she prepared for operation "Market Time" off the coast of Vietnam. From June to October the minesweeper continued patrol and surveillance of Vietnamese Junk traffic. She boarded a total of 186 Junks and steel-hulled ships, and contributed to a reduction of enemy infiltration of men and supplies by sea. Lucid returned to Long Beach 14 December and operated off the southern California coast until May 1966 when she commenced overhaul at Harbor Boat Building Co., San Pedro, Calif.

In October 1966, having completed her overhaul, Lucid prepared for another WestPac deployment. She departed Long Beach on 6 January 1967.

Lucid served once again with the Market Time forces, performing surveillance and search duties, as well as hunting mines in the harbors of South Vietnam On 16 October 1967, she departed Subic Bay, homeward bound after a long but rewarding deployment Lucid arrived at Long Beach on 18 November. Following a brief overhaul period, and refresher training, she sailed for WestPac 1 April. Along with patrol duty off the Vietnamese Coast and upkeep periods at Subic Bay and Singapore, Lucid conducted minesweeping exercises with Allied Navies Returning to Long Beach in mid-October, the minesweeper began a yard period where she remains into 1969. [Transcriber's Note: Lucid was stricken 15 May 1976 and disposed of by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service on behalf of the Navy in November. She was sold as scrap to W. Dean Kirkpatrick, San Francisco, CA, for $40,250.]

This deserves a little translation. Following the defeat of the USA in the Vietnam war, the Lucid was obliged to help in the cleanup of the Haiphong Harbor which had been heavily mined. I know this because a couple of the ship's log books came with it. They were cryptic reading.
-- Dan

Here's a remarkable recounting of one of those Vietnam de-mining operations by Commander Murland W. Searight, who commanded one of the minesweepers.

Click here to see some photos I shot in 1999 at the Mare Island Shipyard of the last days of MSO Lucid's sisters Excel and Constant that were in process of being scrapped.