USS Peacock ( MSC - 198 ) USS " Peacock " ( MSC - 198 ) was an " Falcon " - class coastal minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for clearing coastal minefields . " Peacock " was laid down , 29 January 1953 as AMS - 198 by the Harbor Boat Building Co . , Terminal Island , California . It was launched , 19 June 1954 ; reclassified as a coastal minesweeper , MSC - 198 , 7 February 1955 ; commissioned USS " Peacock " ( MSC - 198 ) , 16 March 1955 . Struck from the Naval Register , 1 July 1975 ; and , disposed of through the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service for scrap , 1 September 1976 . Specifications . Coastal minesweeper nonmagnetic construction , wooden hull and stainless steel , aluminum , and bronze engine and hull fittings . Fitted with AN / UQS - 1B sonar for mine hunting operations . An interesting feature of the " Peacock " was her non - magnetic construction , including all - wooden hull and stainless steel , aluminium and bronze engine and hull fittings . This unique construction rendered the ship safe from magnetic mines and was the reason for her very high initial cost of approximately $ 3 , 500 . 000 . Pacific Ocean operations . Upon completion of fitting out , the " Peacock " conducted training and minesweeping exercises along the California coast until 4 February 1956 , when she departed for her first deployment to the Far East . Vietnam operations . While overseas , " Peacock " participated in several joint exercises with Allied navies , participated in " Operation Market Time " off Vietnam and made port calls in the Far East . She has remained overseas since her first deployment and has continued in the same pattern as her first deployment into 1970 . Peacock was a coastal minesweeper capable of sweeping both moored and bottom sea mines of either contact or influence variety . The ship was the first of her class to be assigned to the U . S . 7th Fleet , and was homeported in Sasebo , Japan since 1956 . Support during Lebanon and Taiwan crises . " Peacock " took part in the General emergency operations during the Lebanon emergency in the summer of 1958 , and patrolled the Formosa Straits during the Taiwan crisis in the fall of 1958 . As part of the U . S . 7th Fleet , " Peacock " stood ready and able at all times to do her part in maintaining the freedom of the seas . Far East tours and operations . Since her arrival in the Far East , homeported in Sasebo , Japan , " Peacock " traveled to such places as Hong Kong , Okinawa , Taiwan , the Philippines , Korea and the Ryukyu Islands , as well as numerous ports - of - call in Japan . She has regularly participated in Mine Exercises with the Navies of Japan , Korea , Nationalist China and the Republic of the Philippines . " Peacock " played an active role in Market Time Patrol off the coast line of Vietnam throughout the Vietnam War . Lt . Michael A . McDevitt served onboard as commanding officer from October 1968 to April 1971 . He is the only commanding officer who remained aboard after making Lt . Cdr , which he pinned on in Subic Bay , January 1971 . Decommissioning . " Peacock " was the last of the Sasebo - based MSC ' s to depart Japan headed for Long Beach , California , for decommissioning and sailed " unaccompanied " from Sasebo to Long Beach , taking 55 days . " Peacock " was struck from the Naval Register , 1 July 1975 and disposed of through the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service for scrap , 1 September 1976 . Military awards and honors . Her crew was eligible for the following medals and ribbons :