USS Notable (MSO-460)
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USS ''Notable'' (AM-460/MSO-460) 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 ''Notable'' (''MSO-460'') was laid down 8 June 1953 by Higgins, Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana; launched 15 October 1954 sponsored by Mrs. deLesseps G. Morrison, wife of the Mayor of New Orleans; and commissioned 8 June 1955.


East Coast operations

Following
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out of
Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, the county seat of Charleston County, and the principal city in the Charleston–North Charleston metropolitan area. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint o ...
, ''Notable'' served as a training ship for the Navy School of Mine Warfare,
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. Returning to Charleston on 18 November 1955, the mine sweeper operated with the
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in the Western Atlantic Ocean for the next two years, and then, on 9 January 1958, deployed to the Mediterranean for a six-month cruise with the
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, returning 23 June. Temporarily assigned to the Loran "B" Experimental Development Force in October and November 1958, ''Notable'' operated off the
U.S. East Coast The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, the Atlantic Coast, and the Atlantic Seaboard, is the coastline along which the Eastern United States meets the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. The eastern seaboard ...
until 18 September 1959 when she entered Norfolk Navy Yard for overhaul.


North Atlantic operations

Engaging in Atlantic Ocean amphibious exercises in early 1960, and her second six months deployment to the Mediterranean, the ship departed Charleston in January 1961 for minesweeping exercises and a Caribbean cruise. Calling at ports in the Virgin Islands and the British West Indies, ''Notable'' sailed to Cape Canaveral, Florida, in April to assist Project Mercury Forces in the launching of America's first man in space, Lt. Comdr.
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, USN. For the remainder of the year, the minesweeper operated off Florida, overhauling at Jacksonville, Florida, from July to October and deploying 6 January 1962 for another
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cruise. She returned to Charleston 1 May, and operated off the Atlantic coast patrolling during the
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in November 1962. On 17 September 1963 ''Notable'', in company with other ships of Mine Division 85 departed Charleston for the Mediterranean.


Caribbean and Mediterranean operations

The minesweeper returned to Charleston 1 March 1964 and on completion of overhaul in late June 1965, she deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for refresher training for a month with a one week visit to Port Antonio, Jamaica. In early August 1965 she returned to Charleston. In early September she departed Charleston for New York City where she ported at Brooklyn Navy Yard for minor preparations for two weeks, from there she continued to Portsmouth, New Hampshire for mine sweeping exercises, returning to Charleston in early October 1965. On 24 January 1966 she departed for her fourth Mediterranean deployment. Arriving Rota, Spain, 21 February, the ship was immediately ordered to participate in the search for a
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lost in an
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off Palomares. The minesweeper remained on this duty until salvage was completed 30 March. She then made goodwill visits to ports in Italy and France, and participated in intensive amphibious training until returning to Charleston 14 July.


Later operations

''Notable'' sailed 19 September for extensive minesweeping exercises off New England. This operation was immediately followed by a cruise to Puerto Rico where she joined other
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ships in " Operation LantFlex66", a full-scale mock invasion of
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. The minesweeper returned to Charleston 15 December and operated out of there for the next year.


Decommissioning

''Notable'' was decommissioned (date unknown) and was stricken from the Navy List 1 February 1971. She was sold for scrap in 1971.


References


External links


Notable


{{DEFAULTSORT:Notable Aggressive-class minesweepers Ships built in New Orleans 1954 ships Vietnam War mine warfare vessels of the United States