USS Inflict (AM-456)

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.

The second ship to be named Inflict by the Navy, AM-456 was launched 16 October 1953 by Wilmington Boat Works, Inc., Wilmington, California; sponsored by Mrs. Robert E. Carlson; and commissioned 11 May 1954, Lt. G. T. Ragon in command.

West Coast operations
After shakedown along the U.S. West Coast, Inflict engaged in sonar and minesweeping exercises until she departed Long Beach, California, 1 July for the western Pacific Ocean. Arriving Yokosuka, Japan 5 August she began operations with the navies of South Korea, Nationalist China, and Japan, In February 1955 she was reclassified MSO 456. Inflict returned to Long Beach 17 February 1956 and spent the remainder of the year on training operations.

Second Far East tour
In 1957, Inflict continued operations off California and Mexico, helping to maintain one of America's mighty antisubmarine warfare forces. The minesweeper sailed 3 January 1958 for duty in the Far East. She arrived there as a crisis loomed in Indonesia. The strength of this mighty armada made itself felt as the crisis diminished quickly without incident.

From 19 to 22 March 1958, Inflict participated in Exercise "Bulwark", the first bilateral exercise between Philippine and U.S. Navy. It took part in the third phase of the exercise, in waters off Corregidor and Caballo Islands.

Inflict participated in joint exercises with the Thailand, and Chinese Nationalist navies before returning to Long Beach on 15 July.

West Coast exercises
For the next 20 months she trained in California waters. On 3 May 1960, Inflict sailed again for six months of joint operations with U.S. allies in Asia, and retured to Long Beach on 16 November.

In 1961, Inflict was engaged in minesweeping operations and midshipman training out of Long Beach.

She sailed 7 April 1962 for exercises in Hawaiian waters, and returning to Long Beach on 17 August.

In 1963, in addition to training in California waters, Inflict sailed on 28 October for joint countermeasure exercises with Canada, and returned to Long Beach on 3 December.

On 22 May 1964, she sailed for duty in the Far East, operating with the friendly navies, and during the summer was deployed for service along South Vietnam. Inflict returned to Long Beach on 7 December.

Supporting Market Time operations
She sailed for the Far East on 7 February 1966. Arriving Subic Bay on 28 March, she headed for her "Market Time" station on 5 April. There, she patrolled to prevent the infiltration of arms and men from North Vietnam to the south. She left the war zone on 1 November and returned to Long Beach on 13 December.

Inflict operated on the West Coast through mid-1967.

Persian Gulf service
On 6 September 1987, USS Grapple (ARS-53) left Little Creek, Virginia, with three minesweepers in tow: USS Fearless (MSO-442), USS Illusive (MSO-448), and Inflict. They transited the Suez Canal and arrived in the Gulf of Oman on 2 November 1987. The 9000 nmi trip set a record for the longest distance three ships were towed by one. While conducting minesweeping operations in the northern Persian Gulf, USS Inflict discovered and destroyed the first of ten underwater contact mines deployed in a field across the main shipping channel. These were the first underwater mines discovered and destroyed by the U.S. Navy since the Korean War. Implicit remained in the Persian Gulf to support Operation Earnest Will.

Decommissioning
Decommissioned on 30 March 1990 Inflict was stricken 23 May 1990. On 1 December 1992, the Navy sold the ship for $12,000 for scrap.