Aggressive-class minesweeper
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The Aggressive-class minesweepers are a class of US-built minesweepers. They are designated as MSO (Mine Sweeper Ocean), distinguishing them from the smaller coastal MSCs and inshore MSIs. Besides the US Navy, this class of vessels has also been used by the Belgian Navy and the Norwegian Navy, among others.
Background
Minesweeping, or the disposal of naval mines, by these vessels is performed in different ways:
- Sweeping proper, with an underwater cable cutting the mooring cables of floating mines. The mines then come to the surface and are destroyed by gunfire.
- Acoustic sweeping, with a towed device producing noise to trigger acoustic mines.
- Magnetic sweeping, with a towed device producing a magnetic field to trigger magnetic mines. To protect the minesweeper itself against magnetic mines, the hull of the ship is made of wood.
Construction and disposition
Of the 53 constructed for the United States Navy, 10 were built at Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana, 9 at J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington, 8 at Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California, 6 at Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut, 4 at Broward Marine Inc, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 4 at Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California, 3 at Burger Boat Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 3 at Colberg Boat Works, Stockton, California, 2 at Fulton Shipyard, Antioch, California, 2 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard and 2 at Seattle Shipbuilding and Drydocking Co., Seattle, Washington.
33 of the class were decommissioned before the mid-1970s. Four ex-USN ships were sold to the Republic of China Navy 1994 and re-classed as Yung Yang-class minesweepers. They were still in active service in 2012. USS Implicit was decommissioned 30 September 1994 in Tacoma, Washington and was the last Aggressive class minesweeper in US Navy active service.
General development of minesweeping
Minesweepers have been in operation since World War I and originally involved a simple metal detector, which sailors used to locate mines. This practice was dangerous not only from the risk of missing and detonating a mine, but also because the enemy would be making the task harder for the sweepers by keeping them under constant, heavy fire. Minesweepers were greatly admired by their peers because of their bravery.
Aggressive class minesweepers used AN/SQQ-14 mine hunting sonar to locate moored or bottom mines. They used electromagnetic cables to set off mines or other cables to cut their mooring lines, and various magnetic and acoustical devices to set off mines. Toward the end of their use, the class also employed remote submersibles like Super Sea Rover to locate mines.
Today, active minesweepers or minehunters are frequently used. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom uses small submarines that are controlled by wireless operators on board the several minesweeping frigates that it possesses. Sweden produced a robotic Self-propelled Acoustic/Magnetic Minesweeper (SAM), which proved its worth during Operation Desert Storm, when it was successfully used for minesweeping by the US Navy. SAMs are currently in service with the Swedish Navy, the Japanese Navy, the Royal Navy and the US Navy, though not necessarily aboard Aggressive class minesweepers.
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A crewman monitors a mine detection and classification sonar console aboard the ocean minesweeper USS Conquest (MSO-488)
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A crewman monitors a mine detection and classification console aboard the ocean minesweeper USS Conquest (MSO 488).
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A paravane used for mine sweeping aboard USS Conquest (MSO-488)
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USS Illusive (MSO-448) lowers an acoustical device during an exercise.
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USS Illusive (MSO-448) lowers an different acoustical device for training.
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USS Illusive (MSO-448) deploys a mineweeping cable.
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USS Constant (MSO-427) deploying the "mag-tail", used to simulate the magnetic pull of a vessel, are towed behind the ship to attract magnetic mines.
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A remote control mine-seeking system, Super Sea Rover, aboard USS Conquest (MSO-488).
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USS Esteem (MSO-438) deploys a marker, for marking mines or mine fields.
Units
Ship Name | Hull No. | Builder | Commission– Decommission |
Fate | Link |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aggressive | 422 | Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut | 1953–1971 | Sold for scrap 1980 | [1] |
Avenge | 423 | Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut | 1954-1970 | Destroyed by fire, sold for scrapping 1969 | [2] |
Bold | 424 | Norfolk Naval Shipyard | 1953-1971 | Sold for scrap 1981 | [3] |
Bulwark | 425 | Norfolk Naval Shipyard | 1953-1971 | Sold for scrap 1980 | [4] |
Conflict | 426 | Fulton Shipyard, Antioch, California | 1954-1973 | Sold for scrap 1973 | [5] |
Constant | 427 | Fulton Shipyard, Antioch, California | 1954-1992 | Sold for scrap 2001 | [6] |
428 - 431 were US Dash class minesweepers | |||||
Dynamic | 432 | Colberg Boat Works, Stockton, California | 1953-1971 | Sold or loaned to Spain as Guadalete M41, 1971. | [7] |
Engage | 433 | Colberg Boat Works, Stockton, California | 1953-1991 | Scrapped 2002 | [8] |
Embattle | 434 | Colberg Boat Works, Stockton, California | 1954-1972 | Sold to be scrapped 1976, privately held until scrapped by USACE in 1993. | [9] |
Endurance | 435 | J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington | 1954-1972 | Sold for scrap 1973 | [10] |
Energy | 436 | J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington | 1954-1972 | Loaned to Philippines 1972 Sold for scrap 1977 |
[11] |
Enhance | 437 | Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California | 1955-1970 1971-1991 |
Sold for scrap 2000 | [12] |
Esteem | 438 | Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California | 1955-1970 1971-1991 |
Sold for scrap 2000 | [13] |
Excel | 439 | Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana | 1955-1992 | Sold for scrap 2000 | [14] |
Exploit | 440 | Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana | 1954-1993 | Sold for scrap 2002 | [15] |
Exultant | 441 | Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana | 1954-1993 | Sold for scrap 2002 | [16] |
Fearless | 442 | Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana | 1954-1990 | Sold for scrap 1992 | [17] |
Fidelity | 443 | Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana | 1955-1989 | Sold for scrap 1990 | [18] |
Firm | 444 | J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington | 1954-1972 | Loaned to Philippines 1972 Scrapped 1977 |
[19] |
Force | 445 | J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington | 1955-1973 | Sunk after a fire | [20] |
Fortify | 446 | Seattle Shipbuilding and Drydocking Co., Seattle, Washington | 1954-1992 | Scrapped 2002 | [21] |
Guide | 447 | Seattle Shipbuilding and Drydocking Co., Seattle, Washington | 1955-1972 | Sold for scrap 1973 | [22] |
Illusive | 448 | Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California | 1953-1990 | Sold for scrap 1993 | [23] |
Impervious | 449 | Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California | 1954-1991 | Scrapped 2002 | [24] |
450 - 454 built at Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington for France, not necessarily Aggressive class ships. | |||||
Implicit | 455 | Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California | 1954-1994 | Sold to Taiwan 1994 | [25] |
Inflict | 456 | Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California | 1954-1990 | Sold for scrap 1992 | [26] |
Loyalty | 457 | Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California | 1954-1972 | Sold for scrap 1973 | [27] |
Lucid | 458 | Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana | 1955-1970 | Sold for scrap 1976 Currently being restored by the Stockton Historical Maritime Museum as a museum ship |
[28] |
Nimble | 459 | Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana | 1955-1970 | Sold for scrap 1981 | [29] |
Notable | 460 | Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana | 1955-1970 | Sold for scrap 1971 | [30] |
Observer | 461 | Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana | 1955-1972 | Sold for scrap 1979 | [31] |
Pinnacle | 462 | Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana | 1955-1970 | Sold for scrap 1978 | [32] |
Pivot | 463 | Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California | 1954-1971 | Initially loaned then sold to Spain as Guadalmedina M42, 1974 | [33] |
Pluck | 464 | Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California | 1954-1990 | Sold for scrap 1992 | [34] |
Prestige | 465 | Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California | 1954-1958 | Grounded and sunk, 1958 in the Naruto Strait | [35] |
Prime | 466 | Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California | 1954-1970 | Sold for scrap 1976 | [36] |
Reaper | 467 | Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California | 1954-1972 | Sold for scrap 1976 | [37] |
Rival | 468 | Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut | 1954-1970 | Sold for scrap 1971 | [38] |
Sagacity | 469 | Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut | 1955-1970 | Grounded at Charleston Harbor then sold for scrap 1970. | [39] |
Salute | 470 | Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut | 1955-1970 | Sold for scrap 1971 | [40] |
Skill | 471 | Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut | 1950-1970 | Sold for scrap 1979, scrapped 1983.[41][dead link] | [42] |
Valor | 472 | Burger Boat Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin | 1954-1970 | Sold for scrap 1971 | [43] |
Vigor | 473 | Burger Boat Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin | 1954-1972 | Sold to Spain as Guadiana M44, 1972. Scrapped by Spain after 1999. | [44] |
Vital | 474 | Burger Boat Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin | 1955-1972 | Sold for scrap 1979 | [45] |
475 - 487 built for France, Portugal, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands, not necessarily Aggressive class ships. | |||||
Conquest | 488 | J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington | 1955-1970 1971-1994 |
Sold to Taiwan 1994 | [46] |
Gallant | 489 | J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington | 1955-1994 | Sold to Taiwan 1994 | [47] |
Leader | 490 | J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington | 1955-1970 1971-1991/92 |
Sold for scrap 1994 | [48] |
Persistent | 491 | J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington | 1956-1971 | Initially loaned in 1971 then sold to Spain as Guadalquivir M43 | [49] |
Pledge | 492 | J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington | 1956-1994 | Sold to Taiwan 1994 | [50] |
Stalwart | 493 | Broward Marine Inc, Fort Lauderdale, Florida | 1956-1966 | Caught fire pier side at San Juan, Puerto Rico, sunk 1966. Later raised and sunk as an artificial reef. | [51] |
Sturdy | 494 | Broward Marine Inc, Fort Lauderdale, Florida | 1957-1971 | Sold for scrap 1978 | [52] |
Swerve | 495 | Broward Marine Inc, Fort Lauderdale, Florida | 1957-1971 | Sold for scrap 1978 | [53] |
Venture | 496 | Broward Marine Inc, Fort Lauderdale, Florida | 1958-1971 | Sold for scrap 1978 | [54] |
MSO-497 | 497 | Cancelled, never built |