MSO-519 Ability
Three Ability (MSO-519) class minesweepers were awarded to Peterson Shipbuilders, Sturgeon Bay WI in 1956. These joined the fleet in 1958. Not considered a successful class, the first paid off in June 1970 and the other two in 1977.
In contrast to the steel-hulled minesweepers of World War II, these new minesweepers were smaller and built primarily of wood, with bronze and stainless (non-magnetic) steel fittings to minimize their magnetic signature. They were fitted with the UQS-1 mine-locating sonar, later updated with SQQ-14 sonar, and were capable of sweeping for moored, bottom contact, magnetic and acoustic mines.
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