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Agile-class minesweeper
US type of minesweeper

The Agile-class minesweepers are US-built ocean-going vessels, with 58 ships constructed for the United States Navy and 35 built for NATO allies including Belgium, France, and the Italian Navy. These vessels were also transferred to navies such as Spain, Taiwan, and the Philippines. The class is sometimes called the Aggressive-class, named after the first commissioned ship, USS Aggressive (MSO-422). Although often grouped with a Dash-class subclass, all share the same design.

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Design

As a result of experiences during the Korean War, the United States Navy undertook a large scale construction of a new series of minesweepers. In contrast to the steel-hulled minesweepers built before, the Agile-class minesweepers were built mostly of wood with bronze and stainless steel fittings and engines to minimize their magnetic signature. The ships were equipped with the UQS-1 mine-locating sonar and were capable of sweeping moored, bottom contact, magnetic and acoustic mines.3

Modernization

Although it was planned to modernize all U.S. Navy ship of this class, only 19 ships were modernized starting with Fiscal Year 1968. The modernization cost between 700,000 and $1,500,000 per ship and should enable them to operate for another ten years. The ships received new aluminum block Waukesha diesel engines and the superstructure was enlarged aft. The UQS-1 sonar was replaced with SQQ-14. Two PAP-104 cable-guided undersea tools were added. Also, two 40 hp zodiacs were carried for the purpose of mooring the new sonar reflectors. Also, a team of mine clearance divers was added. Additional space on the foc'sle was needed for installation of the SQQ-14 cabling so the 40mm Bofors bow gun was replaced with a mount for a twin 20 mm Mk 68 gun.4

As of 2025, the last Agile-class minesweeper, ROCS Yung Yang retired from Taiwan Navy service.567

Construction and disposition

Ship NameHull No.BuilderCommission–DecommissionFateLink
Agile421Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut1956–1972Sold for scrap 1980[1]
Aggressive422Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut1953–1971Sold for scrap 1980[2]
Avenge423Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut1954-1970Destroyed by fire, sold for scrapping 1969
Bold424Norfolk Naval Shipyard1953-1971Sold for scrap 1981[3]
Bulwark425Norfolk Naval Shipyard1953-1971Sold for scrap 1980[4]
Conflict426Fulton Shipyard, Antioch, California1954-1973Sold for scrap 1973[5]
Constant427Fulton Shipyard, Antioch, California1954-1992Sold for scrap 2001[6]
Dash428Astoria Marine Construction, Astoria, Oregon1953-1982Sold for scrap 1984[7]
Detector429Astoria Marine Construction, Astoria, Oregon1953-1982Sold for scrap 1984[8]
Direct430Hiltebrant Dry Dock Co., Kingston, New York1954-1982Sold for scrap 1984[9]
Dominant431Hiltebrant Dry Dock Co., Kingston, New York1954-1982Sold for scrap 1984[10]
Dynamic432Colberg Boat Works, Stockton, California1953-19711971-19981971 to Spain as Guadalete (M41) 1971, decommissioned 1998[11]
Engage433Colberg Boat Works, Stockton, California1953-1991Scrapped 2002[12]
Embattle434Colberg Boat Works, Stockton, California1954-1972Sold to be scrapped 1976, privately held until scrapped by the USACE in 1993.[13]
Endurance435J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington1954-1972Sold for scrap 1973[14]
Energy436J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington1954-19721972-19771972 to the Philippines as BRP Davao del Norte (PM-91)Sold for scrap 1977[15]
Enhance437Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California1955-1991Sold for scrap 2000[16]
Esteem438Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California1955-1991Sold for scrap 2000[17]
Excel439Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana1955-1992Sold for scrap 2000[18]
Exploit440Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana1954-1993Sold for scrap 2002[19]
Exultant441Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana1954-1993Sold for scrap 2002[20]
Fearless442Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana1954-1990Sold for scrap 1992[21]
Fidelity443Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana1955-1989Sold for scrap 1990[22]
Firm444J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington1954-19721972-19771972 to the Philippines as BRP Davao del Sur (PM-92), scrapped 1977[23]
Force445J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington1955-1973Sunk after a fire[24]
Fortify446Seattle Shipbuilding and Drydocking Co., Seattle, Washington1954-1992Scrapped 2002[25]
Guide447Seattle Shipbuilding and Drydocking Co., Seattle, Washington1955-1972Sold for scrap 1973[26]
Illusive448Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California1953-1990Sold for scrap 1993[27]
Impervious449Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California1954-1991Scrapped 2002[28]
Berneval450Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1954-1987Built for France, scrapped[29]
Bir Hacheim451Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1954-19701970-1979Built for France, transferred to Uruguay in 1970 and renamed Maldanado (MS 33), scrapped 1979[30]
Garigliano452Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1954-1988Built for France, struck 1988[31]
Alençon453Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1954-1983Built for France, struck 1983[32]
Dompaire454Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1954-1983Built for France, struck 1983[33]
Implicit455Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California1954-19941994 to Taiwan as Yung Yang (MSO-1306)[34]
Inflict456Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California1954-1990Sold for scrap 1992[35]
Loyalty457Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California1954-1972Sold for scrap 1973[36]
Lucid458Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana1955-1970Sold for scrap 1976Currently being restored by the Stockton Historical Maritime Museum as a museum ship[37]
Nimble459Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana1955-1970Sold for scrap 1981[38]
Notable460Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana1955-1970Sold for scrap 1971[39]
Observer461Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana1955-1972Sold for scrap 1979[40]
Pinnacle462Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana1955-1970Sold for scrap 1978[41]
Pivot463Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California1954-19711974-19991974 to Spain as Guadalmedina (M42), scrapped 1999[42]
Pluck464Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California1954-1990Sold for scrap 1992[43]
Prestige465Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California1954-1958Grounded and sunk, 1958 in the Naruto Strait
Prime466Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California1954-1970Sold for scrap 1976[44]
Reaper467Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California1954-1972Sold for scrap 1976[45]
Rival468Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut1954-1970Sold for scrap 1971[46]
Sagacity469Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut1955-1970Grounded at Charleston, sold for scrap 1970.
Salute470Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut1955-1970Sold for scrap 1971[47]
Skill471Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut1950-1970Sold for scrap 1979[48]
Valor472Burger Boat Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin1954-1970Sold for scrap 1971[49]
Vigor473Burger Boat Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin1954-19721972-19991972 to Spain as Guadiana (M44), scrapped 1999.[50]
Vital474Burger Boat Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin1955-1972Sold for scrap 1979[51]
Mytho475Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1955-1988Built for France, scrapped 1989[52]
Cantho476Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1955-1987Built for France, struck 1987[53]
Vinh Long477Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1955-1988Built for France, scrapped 1992[54]
São Jorge478Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1955-1973Built for Portugal, scrapped 1973[55]
Pico479Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1955-1974Built for Portugal; transferred to Belgium for spare parts, burned out in 1997, scrapped in 2011[56]
Onversaagd480Astoria Marine Construction, Astoria, Oregon1955-1979Built for the Netherlands, reclassified A854 in 1965, scrapped 1979[57]
Onbevreesd 481Astoria Marine Construction, Astoria, Oregon1955-1988Built for the Netherlands, reclassified A855 in 1965, scrapped 1989[58]
Onvervaard482Astoria Marine Construction, Astoria, Oregon1955-1984Built for the Netherlands, reclassified A858 in 1965, scrapped 1984[59]
Onverschrokken483Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin1955-1987Built for the Netherlands, converted to torpedo retriever Mercuur (A856) in 1973, decommissioned 1987 and preserved as museum ship in Vlissingen[60]
Onvermoeid484Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin1955-1974Built for the Netherlands, reclassified A857 in 1965, scrapped 1975[61]
Onverdroten485Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin1955-1984Built for the Netherlands, reclassified A859 in 1965, scrapped 1985[62]
Graciosa486Burger Boat Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin1955-1973Built for Portugal, scrapped 1973[63]
Corvo487Burger Boat Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin1955-1973Built for Portugal, scrapped 1973[64]
Conquest488J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington1955-19941994-20201994 to Taiwan as Yung Tzu (MSO-1307)[65]
Gallant489J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington1955-19941994-20131994 to Taiwan as Yung Ku (MSO-1308)[66]
Leader490J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington1955-1991Sold for scrap 1994[67]
Persistent491J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington1956-19711971-20001971 to Spain as Guadalquivir (M43), scrapped[68]
Pledge492J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington1956-19941994-1994 to Taiwan Yung Teh (MSO-1309)[69]
Stalwart493Broward Marine Inc, Fort Lauderdale, Florida1956-1966Caught fire pier side at San Juan, Puerto Rico, sunk 1966. Later raised and sunk as an artificial reef.
Sturdy494Broward Marine Inc, Fort Lauderdale, Florida1957-1971Sold for scrap 1978[70]
Swerve495Broward Marine Inc, Fort Lauderdale, Florida1957-1971Sold for scrap 1978[71]
Venture496Broward Marine Inc, Fort Lauderdale, Florida1958-1971Sold for scrap 1978[72]
MSO-497497Cancelled
Lågen498Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1955-19661966-1996Built for Norway; transferred to Belgium in 1966 as Dufour (M 903), scrapped 2007[73]
Namsen499Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1955-19661966-1993Built for Norway; transferred to Belgium in 1966 as De Brouwer (M 904), scrapped 2007[74]
Berlaimont500Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1956-1986Built for France, scrapped 1986[75]
Origny501Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1956-1983Built for France, converted to oceanographic research ship in 1962, reclassified A640 in 1974, struck 1985[76]
Autun502Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1956-1985Built for France, scrapped 1985[77]
Artevelde503Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, Tacoma, Washington1956-1985Built for Belgium, scrapped 1985[78]
Breydel504Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, Tacoma, Washington1956-1993Built for Belgium, scrapped 2006[79]
Baccarat505Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, Tacoma, Washington1956-1993Built for France, struck 1993[80]
Storione506Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California1956-1997Built for Italy, struck 1997[81]
Salmone506Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California1956-1996Built for Italy, struck 1996[82]
Narvik512Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin1956-1988Built for France, reclassified A769 in 1976, struck 1989[83]
Ouistreham513Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin1956-1994Built for France, struck 1994[84]
Colmar514Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin1956-1976Built for France, scrapped 1985[85]
Georges Truffaut515Tampa Marine Co., Tampa, Florida1956-2000Built for Belgium, scrapped 2007[86]
F. Bovesse516Tampa Marine Co., Tampa, Florida1956-1993Built for Belgium, scrapped 2004[87]
Sgombro517Tampa Marine Co., Tampa, Florida1957-2000Built for Italy, reclassified P5432 in 1990, decommissioned 2000[88]
Squalo518Tampa Marine Co., Tampa, Florida1957-2000Built for Italy, reclassified P5433 in 1990, decommissioned 2000[89]
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References

  1. NavSource minesweeper class http://www.navsource.net/archives/11/02idx.htm ↩

  2. Paul H. Silverstone: US Warships since 1945. Allan Ltd., Shepperton, Surrey (UK) 1986, p. 127. ISBN 0711015988 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier) ↩

  3. Stefan Terzibaschitsch: Seemacht USA. Bechtermünz Verlag, Augsburg (Germany) 1997, p. 609. ISBN 3860475762 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier) ↩

  4. Terzibaschitsch, p. 609; http://www.allwoodships.com/MilitaryShips/MineWarfare/AM-421,Agile-Aggressive.htm Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine http://www.allwoodships.com/MilitaryShips/MineWarfare/AM-421,Agile-Aggressive.htm ↩

  5. https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E6%9C%80%E5%BE%8C1%E8%89%98%E6%B0%B8%E9%99%BD%E7%B4%9A%E6%8E%83%E9%9B%B7%E8%89%A6%E5%B0%87%E9%99%A4%E5%BD%B9-%E6%B5%B7%E8%BB%8D%E6%8E%83%E9%9B%B7%E6%88%B0%E5%8A%9B%E6%8C%81%E7%BA%8C%E8%A1%B0%E9%80%80-103717537.html https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E6%9C%80%E5%BE%8C1%E8%89%98%E6%B0%B8%E9%99%BD%E7%B4%9A%E6%8E%83%E9%9B%B7%E8%89%A6%E5%B0%87%E9%99%A4%E5%BD%B9-%E6%B5%B7%E8%BB%8D%E6%8E%83%E9%9B%B7%E6%88%B0%E5%8A%9B%E6%8C%81%E7%BA%8C%E8%A1%B0%E9%80%80-103717537.html ↩

  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBT5drSboL4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBT5drSboL4 ↩

  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW5rE2HyMCc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW5rE2HyMCc ↩