The Agile-class minesweepers are a class of US-built ocean-going minesweepers. 58 ships were built for the United States Navy, 35 ships were built for the allied NATO navies of Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal. Thirteen ships were later transferred to Belgium, Spain, Taiwan, the Philippines and Uruguay.

There is some confusion on how to name this class.NavSource minesweeper class The class is often described as the , as was the first ship to be commissioned. Sometimes four ships are a Dash-class subclass, although all ships are of the same design.Paul H. Silverstone: US Warships since 1945. Allan Ltd., Shepperton, Surrey (UK) 1986, p. 127.

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.Stefan Terzibaschitsch: Seemacht USA. Bechtermünz Verlag, Augsburg (Germany) 1997, p. 609.

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 forecastle was needed for installation of the SQQ-14 cabling so the 40 mm Bofors bow gun was replaced with a mount for a twin 20 mm Mk 68 gun.Terzibaschitsch, p. 609; http://www.allwoodships.com/MilitaryShips/MineWarfare/AM-421,Agile-Aggressive.htm

On July 1, 2025, the last Agile-class minesweeper, ROCS Yung Yang retired from Taiwan Navy service.

Construction and disposition Ship NameHull No.BuilderCommission–DecommissionFateLink 421Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut1956–1972Sold for scrap 1980[] 422Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut1953–1971Sold for scrap 1980[] 423Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut1954-1970Destroyed by fire, sold for scrapping 1969 424Norfolk Naval Shipyard1953-1971Sold for scrap 1981[] 425Norfolk Naval Shipyard1953-1971Sold for scrap 1980[] 426Fulton Shipyard, Antioch, California1954-1973Sold for scrap 1973[] 427Fulton Shipyard, Antioch, California1954-1992Sold for scrap 2001[] 428Astoria Marine Construction, Astoria, Oregon1953-1982Sold for scrap 1984[] 429Astoria Marine Construction, Astoria, Oregon1953-1982Sold for scrap 1984[] 430Hiltebrant Dry Dock Co., Kingston, New York1954-1982Sold for scrap 1984[] 431Hiltebrant Dry Dock Co., Kingston, New York1954-1982Sold for scrap 1984[] 432Colberg Boat Works, Stockton, California 1953-19711971-1998 1971 to Spain as Guadalete (M41) 1971, decommissioned 1998 [] 433Colberg Boat Works, Stockton, California 1953-1991 Scrapped 2002 [] 434Colberg Boat Works, Stockton, California 1954-1972 Sold to be scrapped 1976, privately held until scrapped by the USACE in 1993.[] 435J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington 1954-1972 Sold for scrap 1973 [] 436J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington 1954-19721972-1977 1972 to the Philippines as BRP Davao del Norte (PM-91)Sold for scrap 1977 [] 437Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California 1955-1991 Sold for scrap 2000 [] 438Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California 1955-1991 Sold for scrap 2000 [] 439Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana 1955-1992 Sold for scrap 2000 [] 440Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana 1954-1993 Sold for scrap 2002 [] 441Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana 1954-1993 Sold for scrap 2002 [] 442Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana 1954-1990 Sold for scrap 1992 [] 443Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana 1955-1989 Sold for scrap 1990 [] 444J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington 1954-19721972-1977 1972 to the Philippines as BRP Davao del Sur (PM-92), scrapped 1977 [] 445J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington 1955-1973 Sunk after a fire [] 446Seattle Shipbuilding and Drydocking Co., Seattle, Washington 1954-1992 Scrapped 2002 [] 447Seattle Shipbuilding and Drydocking Co., Seattle, Washington 1955-1972 Sold for scrap 1973 [] 448Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California 1953-1990 Sold for scrap 1993 [] 449Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California 1954-1991 Scrapped 2002 []Berneval450Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington 1954-1987 Built for France, scrapped Bir Hacheim451Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington 1954-19701970-1979 Built for France, transferred to Uruguay in 1970 and renamed Maldanado (MS 33), scrapped 1979Garigliano452Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington 1954-1988 Built for France, struck 1988Alençon453Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington 1954-1983 Built for France, struck 1983Dompaire454Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington 1954-1983 Built for France, struck 1983 455Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California 1954-1994 1994 to Taiwan as Yung Yang (MSO-1306)[] 456Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California 1954-1990 Sold for scrap 1992 [] 457Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California 1954-1972 Sold for scrap 1973 [] 458Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana 1955-1970 Sold for civilian use 1976Currently being restored by the Stockton Maritime Museum as a museum ship [] 459Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana 1955-1970 Sold for scrap 1981 [] 460Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana 1955-1970 Sold for scrap 1971 [] 461Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana 1955-1972 Sold for scrap 1979 [] 462Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana 1955-1970 Sold for scrap 1978 [] 463Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California 1954-19711974-1999 1974 to Spain as Guadalmedina (M42), scrapped 1999[] 464Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California 1954-1990 Sold for scrap 1992 [] 465Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California 1954-1958 Grounded and sunk, 1958 in the Naruto Strait 466Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California 1954-1970 Sold for scrap 1976 [] 467Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California 1954-1972 Sold for scrap 1976 [] 468Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut 1954-1970 Sold for scrap 1971 [] 469Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut 1955-1970 Grounded at Charleston, sold for scrap 1970. 470Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut 1955-1970 Sold for scrap 1971 [] 471Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut 1950-1970 Sold for scrap 1979[] 472Burger Boat Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin 1954-1970 Sold for scrap 1971 [] 473Burger Boat Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin 1954-19721972-1999 1972 to Spain as Guadiana (M44), scrapped 1999. [] 474Burger Boat Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin 1955-1972 Sold for scrap 1979 []Mytho475Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1955-1988 Built for France, scrapped 1989 Cantho476Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1955-1987 Built for France, struck 1987 Vinh Long477Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1955-1988 Built for France, scrapped 1992 São Jorge478Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1955-1973 Built for Portugal, scrapped 1973 Pico479Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1955-1974 Built for Portugal; transferred to Belgium for spare parts, burned out in 1997, scrapped in 2011Onversaagd480Astoria Marine Construction, Astoria, Oregon1955-1979 Built for the Netherlands, reclassified A854 in 1965, scrapped 1979Onbevreesd 481Astoria Marine Construction, Astoria, Oregon1955-1988 Built for the Netherlands, reclassified A855 in 1965, scrapped 1989Onvervaard482Astoria Marine Construction, Astoria, Oregon1955-1984 Built for the Netherlands, reclassified A858 in 1965, scrapped 1984Onverschrokken483Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin1955-1987 Built for the Netherlands, converted to torpedo retriever Mercuur (A856) in 1973, decommissioned 1987 and preserved as museum ship in VlissingenOnvermoeid484Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin1955-1974 Built for the Netherlands, reclassified A857 in 1965, scrapped 1975Onverdroten485Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin1955-1984 Built for the Netherlands, reclassified A859 in 1965, scrapped 1985Graciosa 486Burger Boat Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin 1955-1973 Built for Portugal, scrapped 1973 Corvo487Burger Boat Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin 1955-1973 Built for Portugal, scrapped 1973 488J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington 1955-19941994-2020 1994 to Taiwan as Yung Tzu (MSO-1307)[] 489J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington 1955-19941994-2013 1994 to Taiwan as Yung Ku (MSO-1308)[] 490J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington 1955-1991 Sold for scrap 1994 [] 491J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington 1956-19711971-2000 1971 to Spain as Guadalquivir (M43), scrapped[] 492J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington 1956-19941994- 1994 to Taiwan Yung Teh (MSO-1309)[] 493Broward Marine Inc, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 1956-1966 Caught fire pier side at San Juan, Puerto Rico, sunk 1966. Later raised and sunk as an artificial reef. 494Broward Marine Inc, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 1957-1971 Sold for scrap 1978 [] 495Broward Marine Inc, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 1957-1971 Sold for scrap 1978 [] 496Broward Marine Inc, Fort Lauderdale, Florida1958-1971 Sold for scrap 1978 []MSO-497497CancelledLågen498Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1955-19661966-1996 Built for Norway; transferred to Belgium in 1966 as Dufour (M 903), scrapped 2007 Namsen499Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1955-19661966-1993 Built for Norway; transferred to Belgium in 1966 as De Brouwer (M 904), scrapped 2007 Berlaimont500Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1956-1986 Built for France, scrapped 1986 Origny501Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1956-1983 Built for France, converted to oceanographic research ship in 1962, reclassified A640 in 1974, struck 1985 Autun502Bellingham Shipyards Co., Bellingham, Washington1956-1985 Built for France, scrapped 1985 Artevelde503Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, Tacoma, Washington1956-1985 Built for Belgium, scrapped 1985 Breydel504Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, Tacoma, Washington1956-1993 Built for Belgium, scrapped 2006 Baccarat505Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, Tacoma, Washington1956-1993 Built for France, struck 1993 Storione 506Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California 1956-1997 Built for Italy, struck 1997 Salmone 506Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California 1956-1996 Built for Italy, struck 1996 Narvik512Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin1956-1988 Built for France, reclassified A769 in 1976, struck 1989Ouistreham513Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin1956-1994 Built for France, struck 1994Colmar514Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin1956-1976 Built for France, scrapped 1985Georges Truffaut515 Tampa Marine Co., Tampa, Florida1956-2000 Built for Belgium, scrapped 2007F. Bovesse516 Tampa Marine Co., Tampa, Florida1956-1993 Built for Belgium, scrapped 2004Sgombro517 Tampa Marine Co., Tampa, Florida1957-2000 Built for Italy, reclassified P5432 in 1990, decommissioned 2000Squalo518 Tampa Marine Co., Tampa, Florida1957-2000 Built for Italy, reclassified P5433 in 1990, decommissioned 2000

See also Equivalent minesweepers of the same era

References

External links

FAS - MSO-422 class