USS Exploit (AM-440)

Last updated
USS Exploit (MSO-440).jpg
History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
NameExploit
Builder Higgins Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana
Laid down28 December 1951
Launched10 April 1953
Commissioned31 March 1954
Decommissioned16 December 1993
ReclassifiedMSO-440 7 February 1955
Stricken28 March 1994
IdentificationAM-440
FateSold, 4 December 2000
General characteristics
Class and type Aggressive-class minesweeper
Displacement775 tons
Length172 ft (52.43 m)
Beam36 ft (10.97 m)
Draft10 ft (3.05 m)
Propulsion4 × Packard ID1700 diesel engines, replaced by 4 Waukasha Motors Co. diesels, two shafts, two controllable pitch propellers.
Speed14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement70
Armament

USS Exploit (MSO-440) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper. The ship was laid down on 28 December 1951 at Higgins Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana and launched on 10 April 1953. The vessel was commissioned USS Exploit (AM-440) on 31 March 1954 and redesignated as an ocean minesweeper MSO-440 on 7 February 1955.

Contents

As built the vessel was armed one single 40 mm gun mount on the bow and two .50 caliber machine guns. The ship's final weapons configuration replaced the bow gun with one twin 20 mm gun mount while maintaining the two .50 caliber machine guns.

Service history

USS Exploit arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, her home port on 13 March 1955, and began her participation in major fleet exercises, and local and Caribbean Sea training. In 1954, 1957, and 1958, she served with the U.S. 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, participating in exercises and visiting a variety of ports. Her stateside schedule through June 1960 included work in experimental development of mine warfare and defense in Florida waters. On 28 October 1960 USS Exploit again sailed for duty with the U.S. 6th Fleet and remained there through the end of the year.

Exploit was decommissioned on 16 December 1993 and laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility at Portsmouth, Virginia. The ship was struck from the Naval Register on 28 March 1994 and sold on 4 December 2000 to Baltimore Marine Industries, Baltimore, Maryland, for scrapping.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Fearless</i> (MSO-442) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Fearless (AM/MSO-442) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper. She was the third United States Navy ship to carry the name.

USS <i>Direct</i> (AM-430) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Direct (AM-430/MSO-430) was an Agile-class minesweeper of the United States Navy. Laid down on 2 February 1952 at the Hiltebrant Dry Dock Co., of Kingston, New York, the ship was launched on 27 May 1953; commissioned on 9 July 1954 by Benjamin H. Dean; and reclassified as an Ocean Minesweeper, MSO-430, 7 February 1955.

USS <i>Excel</i> (AM-439) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Excel (MSO-439) was an Agile-class minesweeper: laid down, 9 February 1953 as AM-439 at the Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana; launched, 25 September 1953; reclassified an Ocean Minesweeper (non-magnetic) MSO-439, 7 February 1955; commissioned USS Excel (MSO-439), 24 February 1955.

USS <i>Fidelity</i> (AM-443) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Fidelity (AM-443/MSO-443) was an Agile-class minesweeper. Laid down on 15 December 1952 at Higgins Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana; launched on 21 August 1953; commissioned on 19 January 1955; redesignated as an Ocean Minesweeper, MSO-443, 7 February 1955.

USS <i>Force</i> (AM-445) Lost American mine-sweeping warship

USS Force (AM-445) was an Agile-class minesweeper. She was laid down 26 August 1952 at J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington, sponsored by Mrs. T. D. Wilson. She was launched 26 June 1953, commissioned 4 January 1955. She was redesignated an Ocean Minesweeper (MSO-445) on 7 February 1955.

USS <i>Valor</i> (AM-472) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Valor (AM-472/MSO-472) was an Agile-class minesweeper in service with the United States Navy from 1954 to 1970. She was sold for scrap in 1971.

USS <i>Agile</i> (MSO-421) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Agile (MSO-421) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.

USS <i>Vigor</i> (AM-473) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Vigor (AM-473/MSO-473) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.

USS <i>Avenge</i> (AM-423) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Avenge (MSO-423) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for the task of clearing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

USS <i>Exultant</i> (AM-441) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Exultant (AM-441/MSO-441) was an Aggressive-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.

USS <i>Nimble</i> (AM-459) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Nimble (AM-459/MSO-459) was an Agile-class minesweeper in service with the United States Navy from 1955 to 1970. She was sold for scrap in 1981.

USS <i>Notable</i> (MSO-460) U.S. Navy minesweeper

USS Notable (AM-460/MSO-460) was an Aggressive-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.

USS <i>Observer</i> (MSO-461) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Observer (AM-461/MSO-461) 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.

USS <i>Rival</i> (MSO-468) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Rival (AM-468/MSO-468) 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.

USS <i>Sagacity</i> (MSO-469) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Sagacity (AM-469/MSO-469) 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.

USS <i>Leader</i> (MSO-490) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Leader (AM-490/MSO-490) 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.

USS <i>Stalwart</i> (MSO-493) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Stalwart (MSO-493) 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.

USS <i>Venture</i> (MSO-496) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Venture (AM-496/MSO-496) was an Aggressive-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.

USS <i>Adroit</i> (MSO-509) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Adroit (AM-509/MSO-509) was an 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.

USS <i>Affray</i> (MSO-511) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Affray (AM-511/MSO-511) was an Acme-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.

References