USS MAINSTAY (AM-261)

A rope or cable which as part of a ship's standing rigging, steadies a mainmast fore and aft and provides primary support for the angle of the mast; hence, the quality of furnishing chief support or strength

(AM-261: dp. 530 1. 184'6"; b. 33'; dr. 9'9"; s. 15 k.; cpl. 104; a 1 3", 4 40mm.; cl. Admirable)

“...she supported rescue operations after Partridge (AMS-31) struck a mine off Sokcho and sank.”

Mainstay (AM-261) was laid down by American Ship building Co., Lorain, Ohio, 10 April 1943; launched 31 July 1943; sponsored by Mrs. J. A. Hughes; and commissioned 24 April 1944, Lt. Henry B. Clark, Jr., in command.

Mainstay recommissioned 12 December 1950, Lt. Thomas E. Reynolds in command. A week later she departed for the eastern coast of Korea, and on 2 January 1951 she began coastal patrols and mine sweeps in support of the Blockading and Escort Force. During the next month she cleared a path for inshore fire support ships As American and U.N. ground forces began their second drive up the peninsula, she swept for mines and fired at enemy shore positions during an amphibious feint on 30 and 31 January against the Communist-held Kansong-Kosong area. On 2 February she supported rescue operations after Partridge (AMS-31) struck a mine off Sokcho and sank.

After returning briefly to Sasebo 4 February, Mainstay resumed sweeping and patrol duty off Korea. She ranged the coastal waters from Pohang in the south to Songjin in the north, and between 21 February and 31 May she operated primarily off Wonsan supporting the siege and bombardment of the harbor. She departed Korean waters 7 August, touched at Sasebo and Yokosuka, and steamed for the west coast 20 August, arriving Long Beach 11 September 1951.

For almost 2 years Mainstay operated along the California coast and in Hawaiian waters. She again deployed to the Far East 6 August 1953 and resumed patrols off South Korea 22 September.

Operating out of Sasebo, she cruised coastal waters from Pusan to Pohang during the remainder of 1953. She completed her final patrol 10 February 1954 and 2 days later departed Sasebo for Long Beach, where she arrived 11 March

Mainstay remained at Long Beach and decommissioned there 21 September 1954. She entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet at San Diego, and while berthed there was reclassified MSF-261 on 7 February 1955. Her name was struck from the Navy list 1 December 1959 and she was sold for scrap to National Metal and Steel Corp. 8 August 1960.

USS Mainstay received two battle stars for World War II service and four battle stars for Korean service.