- USS Exploit (AM-440)
The USS Exploit (AM-440) was an
Aggressive class minesweeper : laid down,28 December 1951 at Higgins Inc.,New Orleans, Louisiana ; launched,10 April 1953 ; commissioned USS Exploit (AM-440),31 March 1954 ; redesignated as an Ocean Minesweeper MSO-440,7 February 1955 .Armament: as built, one single 40mm
gun mount , two .50 cal.machine guns , final configuration, bow gun replaced by one twin 20mmgun mount , two .50 cal.machine guns remain.North Atlantic operations
USS Exploit arrived at
Charleston, South Carolina , her home port,13 March 1955 , and began her participation in major fleet exercises, and local andCaribbean training. In1954 ,1957 , and1958 , she served with theU.S. 6th Fleet in theMediterranean , participating in exercises and visiting a variety of ports. Her stateside schedule through June1960 included work in experimental development of mine warfare and defense inFlorida waters. On28 October 1960 USS Exploit again sailed for duty with theU.S. 6th Fleet and remained there through the end of the year.Decommissioning
USS Exploit was decommissioned,16 December 1993 ; laid up in theAtlantic Reserve Fleet , Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility,Portsmouth, Virginia ; struck from theNaval Register ,28 March 1994 ; sold,4 December 2000 to Baltimore Marine Industries,Baltimore, Maryland , for scrapping.References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/e6/exploit-ii.htm
*NVR|http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/MSO440.htmExternal links
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/02440.htm NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - Exploit (MSO 440) - ex-AM-440]
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