The USS Exploit (AM-440) was an Aggressive class minesweeper: laid down, 28 December 1951 at Higgins Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana; launched, 10 April 1953; commissioned USS Exploit (AM-440), 31 March 1954; redesignated as an Ocean Minesweeper MSO-440, 7 February 1955. Armament: as built, one single 40mm gun mount, two .50 cal. machine guns, final configuration, bow gun replaced by one twin 20mm gun mount, two .50 cal. machine guns remain.