As 1970 began, FIRM was on its way from Subic Bay, R.P. to Guam, M.I. It was the first leg of her journey home to Long Beach after a highly successful seven month deployment in the Western Pacific for which she was recommended for the Navy Unit Commendation by CTF 115. In company with FIRM were the other ships of MINEDIV 72, USS GALLANT (MSO-489), USS EXCEL (MS0-439), and USS LOYALTY (MS0-457).

Upon arrival in Guam on 7 January it was found that malfunction of GALLANT’s pitch system would delay departure another week. The rest of the division took advantage of the unexpected stay for upkeep and repair.

Or 19 January, MINEDIV 72 departed Guam enroute to Kwajajein Atoll. The division arrived there on 23 January and after refueling, departed the same day for Johnston Island. Pitch problems aboard GALLANT and failure of a reduction gear lube oil pump in FIRM allowed only two ships to be refueled at Johnston Island, EXCEL and LOYALTY. The next day their fuel was shared with the other two ships for the remainder of the trip to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The method of transfer was a rarely used MSO to MSO close-in fueling rig.

When the division arrived in Pearl Harbor, it was only for a short two-day stay before the lengthy transit to Long Beach. The division rendezvoused with the fleet oiler USS KENNEBEC (A0-36) enroute. The ships of MINEDIV 72 refueled with no problems, and on 12 February, the division returned to Pier 9, Long Beach Naval Station, successfully completing its 245 day deployment.

Arrival in Long Beach was followed by a well deserved stand-down leave and up keep period from 12 February to 16 March. From 16 - 30 March, however, the tempo picked up considerably as the ship began her restricted overhaul and made ready for her annual dry-docking. On 30 March, FIRM crossed the sill of Drydock Number TWO, Long Beach Naval Shipyard. While in drydock, on 15 April, FIRM became flagship of the newly reorganized MINE DIVISION 91, composed of FIRM, USS LOYALTY (MSO-457), USS ENERGY (MS0-436), and USS CONSTANT (MS0-427).

On 27 April, FIRM left drydock for completion of her restricted overhaul at pierside. The availability at Long Beach Naval Shipyard continued through 25 May. During the entire period of the overhaul, in a little more than two months, FIRM had managed to complete a work package com­parable to that of a regular yard overhaul.

The period from 25 May to 19 June was spent in preliminary sea trials and generally in preparing the ship to remain at sea for extended periods of time. The training of the crew also received more attention than had been possible in the yard overhaul. Included in this period of independent steaming and training was the required run on the degaussing range, and a successful four hour full power run. FIRM was the first MSO to complete a four hour full power run in several years.

From 21 - 23 June, FIRM underwent a Command Inspection performed bv COMINLFLOT 3 and Staff. An overall grade of 86.7 was achieved in the inspection.

After a week of preparation, the ship commenced MCM Refresher training at Long Beach on 6 July. At the completion of training on 18 July, FIRM had received a final overall grade of 94.2, which qualified her for the Mine Countermeasures “M’. Also during this training, FIRM adapted procedures developed for the AN/SQQ-14 8onar to its older AN/UQS-1 for individual detection and marking of bottom mines.

After a short week to catch her breath, FIRM departed for Refresher Training in San Diego on 24 July. During the intensive four-week training period, FIRM exercised in all mission areas except mine countermeasures. Her final over all average for the entire training period was 83.58. Upon completion of training, FIRM underwent stray fields testing before leaving San Diego, then departed for Long Beach by way of San Clemente Island for NGFS qualifications. FIRM succeeded in qualifying and became the only MSO to do so in 1970.

After a short two-week post-REFTRA period, FIRM was inspected by the Board of Inspection and Survey. 177 Group I and 200 Group II discrepancies were listed in the inspection, with not one item classified as “Mission Degrading”.

20 September marked FIRM’s re-entry into fleet operations with participation in ROPEVAL 4-70. During this coordinated fleet-wide exercise, FIRM performed minesweeping, minehunting, mine raking, and mine recovery operations. During the week of the exercise, FIRM had a chance to put into practice the skills learned in the previous months of training.

Upon return to Long Beach, FIRM commenced a restricted availability at Larson Boat Yard, Terminal Island, in pre­paration for her impending WESTPAC deployment. During this period from 2 to 20 October, FIRM received a new main engine and also received a second Command Inspection (grade 91.57) in addition to putting the finishing touches on her material readiness for deployment. Upon leaving the yard, FIRM once again ran the degaussing range and then entered her formal P0M period, commencing on 23 October.

The three weeks from 23 October to 16 November were spent getting the ship ready for her second deployment in less than a year. In spite of the preparation of the few previous months, there was still a good deal of work to be done to make FIRM completely self-sufficient during the long transit and subsequent Market Time patrols. On 13 November FIRM was awarded her second Meritorious Unit Commendation, in recognition of her 1968 WESTPAC Deployment. At this time her eligibility for the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Commendation (Cross of Gallantry) was also announced.

On 16 November, MINEDIV 91 departed Long Beach for Pearl Harbor and the first leg of the transit to Market Time. For FIRM it was the fifth WESTPAC deployment in seven years. The transit to Pearl Harbor was a long and uncomfortable one. Heavy winter seas took their toll on a crew that had experienced an almost complete turnover since last deployment. On 25 November, FIRM arrived at Pearl Harbor to spend the long Thanksgiving weekend. After a welcome rest, MINEDIV 91 departed for Guam, M.I. on 28 November with scheduled fuel stops at Johnston and Kwajalein Islands.

As the division arrived at Johnston Island on 1 December FIRM developed a pitch casualty and elected not to risk the tricky coral reefs with no backup pitch system. Thus, for the second time in a year, FIRM refueled from LOYALTY off Johnston Island, This time, however, LOYALTY topped off FIRM’s tanks and went in with the rest of the division to refuel afterward. An almost identical MSO to MSO close-in rig was used.

The remainder of the voyage to Guam proceeded without incident. With a short fuel stop at Kwajalein Atoll on 8 December, the ship arrived in Guam on 14 December. After three days of upkeep and voyage repairs in Guam, FIRM and CONSTANT left for Subic Bay, arriving by way of the San Bernardino Straits on 22 December. ENERGY and LOYALTY remained in Guam for two more weeks of upkeep.

The Christmas Holidays were spent in Subic Bay. During that period key personnel of FIRM and CONSTANT were thoroughly briefed on Market Time Operations by personnel from MINEDIV 71.

On 27 December, FIRM and CONSTANT left Subic Bay, separating at the harbor entrance to set course to their respective patrol areas. FIRM set course for Market Time Area 7B, to relieve USS DYNAMIC (MS0432) on station.

On 30 December, in heavy seas in the lee of Cu Loa Hon Island, FIRM relieved DYNAMIC of her duties as Market Time Outer Barrier Patrol Ship, and shortly thereafter commenced her first patrol.