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 20mm gun 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 and Caribbean training. In 1954, 1957, and 1958, she served with the U.S. 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 USS Exploit again sailed for duty with the U.S. 6th Fleet and remained there through the end of the year.

Decommissioning
USS Exploit was decommissioned, 16 December 1993; laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Portsmouth, Virginia; struck from the Naval Register, 28 March 1994; sold, 4 December 2000 to Baltimore Marine Industries, Baltimore, Maryland, for scrapping.