# USS Pivot (MSO-463)

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For other ships named USS Pivot, see [USS Pivot (disambiguation)](/source/USS_Pivot_(disambiguation)).

**USS *Pivot* (AM-463/MSO-463)** was an [*Aggressive*-class](/source/Aggressive_class_minesweeper) [minesweeper](/source/Minesweeper_(ship)) acquired by the [U.S. Navy](/source/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 ship to be named *Pivot* by the Navy, *AM–463* was laid down 31 March 1952 by [Wilmington Boat Works](/source/Wilmington_Boat_Works), [Wilmington, California](/source/Wilmington,_California); launched 9 January 1954; sponsored by Mrs. Minor C. Heinl; and commissioned 12 July 1954.

## West Coast operations

Following [shakedown](/source/Shakedown_cruise) in the [Long Beach](/source/Long_Beach,_California)-[San Diego](/source/San_Diego,_California) area, *Pivot* became [flagship](/source/Flagship) of [Mine Division](/source/Mine_Division) 93 at its establishment 6 December. On 8 January 1955, she participated in [Operation Rainbow](/source/Operation_Rainbow_(1955)) to begin her career in the [U.S. Pacific Fleet](/source/U.S._Pacific_Fleet) and the following month was redesignated *MSO–463*.

## WestPac deployments

She operated along the [U.S. West Coast](/source/U.S._West_Coast) until departing [Long Beach, California](/source/Long_Beach,_California), 2 June 1958 for the [Far East](/source/Far_East) for service with the [U.S. 7th Fleet](/source/U.S._7th_Fleet). During this deployment she attempted to assist [USS *Prestige* (MSO-465)](/source/USS_Prestige_(MSO-465)) aground at [Naruto Kaikyo](/source/Naruto_Kaikyo), Japan; but ran aground herself during the daring operation in dangerous waters. *Pivot* managed to break free but *Prestige* was lost.

## Awarded the Battle Efficiency “E”

Returning to Long Beach 7 January 1959, the non-magnetic ocean minesweeper resumed operations along the [U.S. West Coast](/source/U.S._West_Coast) establishing a pattern of alternating service off the Pacific seaboard with WestPac deployments in 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966 and 1968. During the 1962 deployment, she received the Battle Efficiency “E”.

## Supporting Market Time operations

Her last three deployments took *Pivot* to [Viet Nam](/source/Viet_Nam) for [“Market Time” operations](/source/Operation_Market_Time), inspecting [junks](/source/Junk_(ship)) and other craft to stem the flow of Communist war material from the north into [South Viet Nam](/source/South_Viet_Nam). Her light draft, and her crew's high standard of [seamanship](/source/Seamanship) suited the minesweeper ideally for this important service in support of freedom.

Pivot's last WESTPAC deployment, during which she served in Operation Market Time, first at the mouth of the Mekong River and then along the DMZ, was from February to September, 1970. Pivot was decommissioned on 1 July 1971. Stricken from the Navy list 1 August 1974. She was sold to Spain effective the same day. Pivot was named Guadamedina (M42) in the Spanish Navy.

## Decommissioning

*Pivot* was decommissioned on 1 July 1971. Stricken from the [Navy list](/source/Navy_list) 1 August 1974 she was sold to Spain effective the same day. *Pivot* was named *Guadamedina* (M42) in the [Spanish Navy](/source/Spanish_Navy).

## External links

- [USS Pivot](https://web.archive.org/web/20040314005601/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p11/prestige-ii.htm)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [USS Pivot (MSO-463)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Pivot_(MSO-463)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Pivot_(MSO-463)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.