page_title: USS Leader (MSO-490)
section_title: Cambodia and Vietnam operations
hierarchical_section_title: USS Leader (MSO-490) / Cambodia and Vietnam operations
caption_attribution_description: English: The U.S. Navy minesweeper USS Leader (MSO-490) seen from a Lockheed SP-2H Neptune from Patrol Squadron 4 (VP-4) on patrol off the coast of Vietnam, circa 1965. VP-4 began a splitsite deployment to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, with detachments at various dates located at Naval Air Facility Tan Son Nhut, Vietnam; Naval Station Sangley Point and Naval Air Station Cubi Point, Philippines, in March 1965.
context_page_description: USS Leader was an Agile-class minesweeper 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.
  Leader was laid down by J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington, 22 September 1953; launched 15 September 1954; sponsored by Mrs. Norman Wordlund; reclassified MSO-490 7 February 1955, and commissioned 16 November 1955, Lt. Comdr. Harvey E. Toponce in command. This MSO class of minesweeper was constructed of non-magnetic materials, including a wooden hull and aluminum engines, and had a degaussing system to reduce the magnetic field of the vessel, so that it could move over magnetic mines without detonating them. It was equipped with a "magnetic tail", two thick cables spooled on a large reel aft of the superstructure. The power-generation system could send current through this split tail after it was streamed behind the ship, creating a magnetic field designed to set off magnetic mines after the ship passed over them. It carried conventional mine-sweeping gear as well.
context_section_description: From 1959 through 1968 Leader alternated six WestPac cruises with U.S. West Coast mine warfare and mine countermeasure exercises. During her 1961 cruise. Leader became the first warship ever to visit the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh when she completed the 180-mile transit up the Mekong River on 27 August, under the command of Lt. Commander Frank Kauzlarich. On this same cruise she directed South Vietnamese units in minesweep training operations. During her tour with the U.S. 7th Fleet in 1965, Leader again operated off South Vietnam, this time under more serious circumstances. From June to August she performed special minesweeping operations and played a major role in the expanded American effort to assist the courageous people of Vietnam in their fight against Communist aggressors. Her tour completed, Leader returned to Long Beach 14 December to resume training operations.
caption: Leader off Vietnam in 1965.
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