USS Pivot (MSO-463)

Last updated
USS Pivot (MSO-463) departs Long Beach, California (USA), on 9 September 1968 (K-57818).jpg
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Pivot (AM-463)
Builder Wilmington Boat Works
Laid down31 March 1952
Launched9 January 1954
Commissioned12 July 1954
ReclassifiedMSO-463, February 1956
Decommissioned1 July 1971
Stricken1 August 1974
Homeport Long Beach, California
FateSold to Spain, 1 August 1974
History
Naval Jack of Spain.svgSpain
NameGuadalmedina (M42)
Acquired1 August 1974
Decommissioned18 January 2001
FateUnknown
StatusDecommissioned
General characteristics
Class and type Aggressive-class minesweeper
Displacement775 tons
Length172 ft (52 m)
Beam36 ft (11 m)
Draught10 ft (3.0 m)
Speed15 knots
Complement65
Armamentone 40 mm mount

USS Pivot (AM-463/MSO-463) 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.

Contents

The second ship to be named Pivot by the Navy, AM–463 was laid down 31 March 1952 by Wilmington Boat Works, Wilmington, California; launched 9 January 1954; sponsored by Mrs. Minor C. Heinl; and commissioned 12 July 1954.

West Coast operations

Following shakedown in the Long Beach-San Diego area, Pivot became flagship of Mine Division 93 at its establishment 6 December. On 8 January 1955, she participated in Operation Rainbow to begin her career in the U.S. Pacific Fleet and the following month was redesignated MSO–463.

WestPac deployments

She operated along the U.S. West Coast until departing Long Beach, California, 2 June 1958 for the Far East for service with the U.S. 7th Fleet. During this deployment she attempted to assist USS Prestige (MSO-465) aground at Naruto Kaikyo, Japan; but ran aground herself during the daring operation in dangerous waters. Pivot managed to break free but Prestige was lost.

Awarded the Battle Efficiency “E”

Returning to Long Beach 7 January 1959, the non-magnetic ocean minesweeper resumed operations along the U.S. West Coast establishing a pattern of alternating service off the Pacific seaboard with WestPac deployments in 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966 and 1968. During the 1962 deployment, she received the Battle Efficiency “E”.

Supporting Market Time operations

Her last three deployments took Pivot to Viet Nam for “Market Time” operations, inspecting junks and other craft to stem the flow of Communist war material from the north into South Viet Nam. Her light draft, and her crew's high standard of seamanship suited the minesweeper ideally for this important service in support of freedom.

Pivot's last WESTPAC deployment, during which she served in Operation Market Time, first at the mouth of the Mekong River and then along the DMZ, was from February to September, 1970. Pivot was decommissioned on 1 July 1971. Stricken from the Navy list 1 August 1974. She was sold to Spain effective the same day. Pivot was named Guadamedina (M42) in the Spanish Navy.

Decommissioning

Pivot was decommissioned on 1 July 1971. Stricken from the Navy list 1 August 1974 she was sold to Spain effective the same day. Pivot was named Guadamedina (M42) in the Spanish Navy.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Engage</i> (MSO-433) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Engage (MSO-433), an Agile-class minesweeper, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named Engage.

USS <i>Gallant</i> (MSO-489) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Gallant (MSO-489), an Aggressive-class minesweeper, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named Gallant. The ship served in the US Navy from 1954 until 1994, when it was sold to Taiwan under the Security Assistance Program and renamed to Yung Ku.

USS <i>Lucid</i> (MSO-458) Aggressive-class minesweeper

USS Lucid (AM-458/MSO-458) is an Aggressive-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing naval mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships. She was launched soon after the Korean War, sailed on five Western Pacific (Westpac) cruises and served four tours in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Lucid was decommissioned at the end of 1970 and placed in mothballs after only 15 years of service, as the Vietnam War was winding down and there was no longer a need for a large fleet of minesweepers. She was purchased by civilians and served as a houseboat for ten years, before being sold again in 1986 and used as a warehouse by a scrap metal dealer on Bradford Island, in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. The scrap metal dealer was murdered in 2004 over a property dispute, and in 2005, Lucid was acquired by a foundation seeking to save a ship of its class. In 2011, the ship was moved to the Stockton Maritime Museum to be restored for use as a museum ship. Lucid is the last Aggressive-class minesweeper afloat in the United States.

USS <i>Esteem</i> Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Esteem (AM-438/MSO-438) 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>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>Fortify</i> (AM-446) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Fortify (AM-446/MSO-446) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing Contact, Magnetic, and Acoustic mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

USS <i>Illusive</i> (AM-448) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Illusive (AM-448/MSO-448) 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>Impervious</i> (AM-449) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Impervious (AM-449/MSO-449) 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>Implicit</i> (AM-455) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Implicit (AM-455/MSO-455) 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>Inflict</i> (AM-456) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Inflict (AM-456/MSO-456) 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>Loyalty</i> (AM-457) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Loyalty (AM-457/MSO-457) 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>Pluck</i> (MSO-464) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Pluck (AM-464/MSO-464) 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>Prestige</i> (MSO-465) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Prestige (AM-465/MSO-465) 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>Reaper</i> (MSO-467) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Reaper (MSO-467) 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 Persistent (AM-491/MSO-491) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing naval mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

USS <i>Pledge</i> (MSO-492) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Pledge (MSO-492) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy.

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.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .