USS Pivot MSO 463

• Name and Class: USS Pivot (MSO-463) was an Aggressive-class minesweeper in the United States Navy. • Launch and Commissioning: She was launched on 13 February 1953 by Wilmington Boat Works, Wilmington, California, and commissioned on 14 June 1954. • Primary Role: As a minesweeper, her main mission was to detect and remove naval mines to ensure safe passage for other vessels. • Construction Material: The Aggressive-class, including Pivot, was notable for being constructed primarily from wood and non-ferrous metals to reduce magnetic signatures and avoid detonating magnetic mines. • Service in the Pacific Fleet: USS Pivot operated mainly with the Pacific Fleet, participating in training exercises and operations along the U.S. West Coast and in the Western Pacific, including deployments to Japan and the Philippines. • Vietnam War Service: During the Vietnam War, Pivot conducted minesweeping operations and supported naval activities in the region, helping to secure coastal waters and rivers. • Humanitarian Missions: In addition to military operations, Pivot took part in goodwill visits and joint exercises with allied navies, fostering international cooperation during the Cold War. • Decommissioning: She was decommissioned on 1 July 1972, after nearly two decades of service with the U.S. Navy. • Transfer to Taiwan: After decommissioning, USS Pivot was transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy under the Security Assistance Program, where she continued to serve as ROCS Yung Shou (MSO-130). • Legacy: USS Pivot's service represents the vital but often overlooked role of minesweepers in ensuring maritime safety and freedom of navigation during both peacetime and conflict.