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USS EXPLOIT (MSO-440) http://www.geocities.com/mrhud/index.html Aggressive Class
56 Ships
Hull numbers 422-427, 432-449, 455-474, 488-496 | | Ships Compliment | 65 Enlisted | | 5 Officers | | Length | 172 Feet | | Max Beam (Width) | 35 Feet | | Draft | 10 Feet | | Displacement | 775 Tons | | Armament | One 40MM Gun | Two 50 Cal.
Machine Guns | | Speed | 14 Knots | EXPLOIT (MSO 440) (ex-AM 440) The second Exploit (AM-440) was launched 10 April 1953 by Higgins Corp., New Orleans, La., sponsored by Mrs. R. F. Kennon, wife of the Governor of Louisiana; and commissioned 31 March 1954, Lieutenant Commander E. M. Akin in command. She was reclassified MSO-440 7 February 1955. Exploit arrived at Charleston, S.C., her home port 13 March 1955, and began her participation in major fleet exercises, and local and Caribbean training. In 1954, 1957, and 1958, she served with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean, 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 Exploit again sailed for duty with the 6th Fleet and remained there through the end of the year.
As a result of the Korean war experience the United States undertook the construction of a new series of minesweepers on a large scale. During the decade of the 1950s sixty-five new minesweepers were built. These new minesweepers were designated Minesweeper, Ocean (non-magnetic (MSO). They consisted of three classes of ships: Agile/Aggressive, Hull numbers 421 to 507; Acme, hull numbers 508 to 518; and Ability, hull numbers 519 to 522. In contrast to the steel-hulled minesweepers of World War II, designated (AM) later (MSF) and still later (MSO(O), these new minesweepers were smaller and built primarly of wood , with bronze and stainless (non-magnetic) steel fittings to minimize their magnetic signature. All of the 1950 era MSOs had UQS-1 mine-locating sonar, later updated with SQQ-14 sonar. MSOs were capable of sweeping for moored and bottom contact, magnetic and acoustic mines. 
MINESWEEPER,OCEAN | | | | UIC: | 07970 | | Class: | MSO 422 | | Fleet: | Atlantic | | Status: | Stricken, to be disposed of by the Security Assistance Program (SAP), for cash sale | | Homeport: | | | Date status changed: | 03/28/1994 | | Berth: | Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF), Portsmouth, VA | | Planned Disposition: TO BE SCRAPPED THROUGH THE SHIP DISPOSAL PROJECT | | Maintenance Category: | X | | Force: | | | MARAD Type: | | | | Builder: | | | | Delivery Date: | | | Award Date: | | | Age (since delivery): | | | Keel Date: | 12/28/1951 | | Commission Date: | 03/31/1954 | | Launch Date: | 04/10/1953 | | Decommission Date: | 12/16/1993 | | Age (since launch) | 47.4 years | | Years from Commission to Decommission: | 39.7 | | | Stricken Date: | 03/28/1994 | | Accommodations: | Officers: | | Enlisted: | | | | | Custodian: | NAVAL INACTIVE SHIP MAINTENANCE FACILITY (NISMF), PORTSMOUTH, VA |
Ship's Mission A minesweeper's mission is to conduct minesweeping and minehunting operations. The agility of a minesweeper to clear the sea lanes is a very important one for the United States since the use of mines can tie-up both civilian and Navy ships until the channel can be cleared. With minesweepers performing their mission, the possibility that other ships will be sunk or damaged by mines is greatly reduced.
Wooden Ships Still 'Sail' for the Navy The Navy still has use for wooden ships. The ships are minesweepers that search sea lanes for explosive mines planted by enemy forces. Their hulls are wooden. The Navy has 14 new MCM Class highly sophisticated, ocean-going vessels, (first deployed Sept., 1987). Two saw action in Operation Desert Storm - USS Avenger and USS Guardian. The primary wood is Douglas fir, treated after construction and covered with one-eight inch thick fiberglass "paint". The frames are white oak. One of the major types of mines that these ships work against are magnetic influence mines that "sense" a ship's magnetic signature. That is why wood hulls are desirable.
102 MSO'S Ocean Minesweeper (MSO) Information
I have the most complete, accurate and detailed information on the net today. ALL 102 ocean minesweepers are accounted for. I have dates, pictures, links to the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships web site, the Naval Vessel Register web site, Ship Yard web sites, Ship Home Page web sites, etc.
Sixty-five were built for the United States, 36 for foreign governments, and one ship was cancelled. Eight are currently in Mothballs.
"Where the Fleet Goes, We've Been"
102 MSO'S
NAVAL INACTIVE SHIP MAINTENANCE FACILITY (NISMF), PORTSMOUTH, VA 
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