USS Implicit MSO-455 
Wooden Ship – Iron Men
This wooden model of the Implicit was a gift from my brother
The Implicit, designated an Aggressive Class Minesweeper, was laid down October 29, 1952
at the Wilmington Boat Works, Wilmington, California and launched August 1, 1953.
Sponsored by Mrs. Landon Horton and with Lt. Commander A. G. Filiatrault in command
the USS Implicit (AM-455) was commissioned on March 10, 1954.
The Implicit was reclassified a Minesweeper Ocean (MSO-455) in February of 1955.
Decommissioned on September 30, 1994 in Tacoma Washington and sold to the
Republic of China (ROC), the Implicit was the last aggressive class minesweeper in
United States Navy active service. Classified as a Yung Yang Minesweeper,
the ROC Navy designated her M-1306. The fate of M-1306 is unknown.
The Implicit displaced 775 tons with a length of 172 feet, a beam of 35 feet and a draught
of 11 feet six inches. Her maximum speed was 14 knots powered by two Packard ID1700
diesel engines, later replaced with four Waukasha Motors Company diesels.
The Implicit had two shafts, each with controllable pitch propellers.
The Implicit’s armament when launched was configured with a one single 40mm gun mount
on the bow and a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on both the port and starboard wings
of the pilot house. A twin 20mm gun mount later replaced the 40mm mount to make room
for the AN/SQ-14 Sonar winch. The 20mm gun and sonar winch are visible in this image.
The Implicit in dry dock at a civilian shipyard located in the Port of Los Angeles California, March 1970
Photograph Courtesy SM3 Glen Bernard USS Implicit MSO-455 (December 1968 – June 1970)
USS Implicit MSO-455 in dry dock at the Subic Bay Naval Station, Philippines June 1969
Photograph Courtesy SM3 Glen Bernard USS Implicit MSO-455 (December 1968 – June 1970)
