USS Thrush (MSC-204)

Thrush steaming out of Key West, Florida
History
United States
Name:	USS Thrush
Builder:	Tampa Marine Co.
Laid down:	5 May 1954
Launched:	5 January 1955
Commissioned:	8 November 1955
Decommissioned:	1 July 1975
Reclassified:	from (AMS-204) 7 February 1955
Struck:	1 August 1977
Homeport:	1956: Yorktown, Virginia 1957: Key West, Florida 1959: Coco Solo
Fate:	Disposed
General characteristics
Class & type:	Redwing-class minesweeper
Displacement:	320 long tons (330 t)
Length:	144 ft (44 m)
Beam:	28 ft (8.5 m)
Draft:	9 ft (2.7 m)
Propulsion:	2 × 880 shp (660 kW) GM 8-268A diesel engines
Speed:	13.5 knots (25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph)
Complement:	39 sailors
Armament:	2 × 20 mm guns

USS Thrush (MSC-204) was a Redwing-class minesweeper in the service of the United States Navy from 1955 to 1975.

Assignments

Soon after her commissioning in November 1955, the Thrush arrived in Chesapeake Bay to conduct a successful shakedown cruise. In 1956 she was assigned to the Yorktown, Virginia Mine Warfare School, followed in August by assignment to Norfolk, Virginia to participate in Operation Hideaway. In 1957 Thrush moved to her new homeport in Key West, Florida where she tested and evaluated new mine warfare equipment for the 6th Naval District's Mine Warfare Evaluation Detachment.

In 1974, she assisted in expanding the Osborne Artificial Reef. While serving as a Naval Reservist, LeRoy Collins Jr. was the Thrush's commanding officer.