About this Unit
**MSO 455 USS Implicit** was an Aggressive-class minesweeper of the United States Navy. Commissioned in 1954, USS Implicit served primarily in mine countermeasure operations during the Cold War, ensuring safe passage for allied naval forces. The ship participated in multiple deployments to the Western Pacific, including joint exercises with allied navies and patrols in sensitive maritime regions. After decades of dedicated service, USS Implicit was decommissioned in 1992 and later struck from the Naval Vessel Register.
Historical Facts
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USS Implicit (AM-455/MSO-455) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy, designed to locate and remove naval mines to ensure safe passage for other vessels.
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Launched in 1953 by J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation in Tacoma, Washington, the vessel was commissioned into service on December 12, 1954.
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Name Significance: The name "Implicit" means implied though not plainly expressed, part of a tradition of naming minesweepers with abstract or conceptual names.
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MSO Designation: The ship was initially designated AM-455 (Auxiliary Mine, 455), and later redesignated MSO-455 in 1955, with "MSO" standing for "Mine Sweeper, Ocean."
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Vietnam War Service: USS Implicit participated in Operation Market Time, the U.S. Navy's coastal surveillance operations during the Vietnam War, helping to interdict the flow of arms and supplies by sea.
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Operations in the Pacific: The ship was homeported in Long Beach, California, and regularly deployed to the Western Pacific as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet, participating in exercises and patrols.
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Wooden Hull Construction: Like other Aggressive-class minesweepers, USS Implicit featured a wooden hull and non-magnetic materials to reduce the risk of detonating magnetic mines.
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Decommissioning: The vessel was decommissioned on September 30, 1992, after nearly four decades of service and was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1994.
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International Exercises: During its career, USS Implicit participated in numerous joint exercises with allied navies, including operations with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and the South Korean Navy.
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Legacy: Although no longer in service, MSO-455 represents an era of Cold War naval mine warfare and is remembered for its critical role in maintaining safe sea lanes during both peacetime and conflict.
