USS Guide ( AM - 447 ) USS " Guide " ( AM - 447 / MSO - 447 ) was an 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 ship to be named Guide by the Navy , " AM - 447 " was launched 17 April 1954 by the Seattle Shipbuilding & Drydocking Corp . , Seattle , Washington ; sponsored by Miss Ann L . Larson ; and commissioned 15 March 1955 , Lt . John E . Lowell in command . Her hull classification changed from " AM - 447 " to " MSO - 447 " on 7 February 1955 . West Coast operations . " Guide " spent the first year of her career in coastwise operations off California . This duty included surveys for the Navy Hydrographic Office in the San Diego - Long Beach area and in San Francisco Bay approaches . She departed Long Beach , California , 1 October 1956 and arrived in Yokosuka 31 October for minesweeping exercises that took her off the coast of Korea , the Marianas Islands , and along the coast of Japan . She returned to Long Beach 15 April for 2 years of training along the western seaboard . On 2 April 1959 she again deployed for the Far East , expanding duties to include joint mine exercises with the naval forces of Japan , Korea and Nationalist China . " Guide " returned to Long Beach from her second Asian tour 15 October 1959 and resumed operations along the California seaboard for the next 2 years . On 1 May 1961 she sailed on her third tour of duty with the U . S . 7th Fleet , arriving in Yokosuka , Japan , 29 May 1961 . Following amphibious and other mine warfare exercises to the coasts of Korea and the Philippines , she returned to Long Beach 14 November . The next 16 months were filled with mine countermeasure and minesweeping training that took her as far north as Seattle and Esquimalt , British Columbia . Continued Far East operations . " Guide " was again underway for the Far East 5 April 1963 , touching Midway Island and the Marianas on her way to Japan . She again swept to the shores of Taiwan , Korea , and the Philippines before returning to Long Beach 5 November 1963 . Coastwise training occupied her until 5 April 1965 when she sailed for Guam , Marianas Islands , arriving 3 May 1965 . Supporting Vietnam crisis operations . " Guide " underwent a 3 - week upkeep period at Guam . She arrived off the coast of Vietnam 1 June to begin the first of three periods of " Operation Market Time " anti - infiltration patrols to deny movement of war supplies to the Viet Cong . Her first patrol terminated 30 June . Subsequent patrols were carried out 25 July - 12 August 1965 and 18 September - 5 October 1965 . Following a liberty call at Hong Kong , she paid a 2 - day visit to Iloilo City , Panay , Republic of the Philippines . She opened for general visiting 25 – 28 October and contributed books and food to assist in America ' s people - to - people program of international friendship . The Guide returned to the waters off Viet Nam for additional patrols in late 1969 and early 1970 . While on patrol the ship and crew engaged the enemy in a ship - to - shore fire - fight that resulted in the crewmembers being awarded the Combat Action Medal . Joint naval exercises in the Philippines . " Guide " joined in combined mine warfare exercises with units of the Philippine Navy before setting course for the Marshalls , Hawaii , and back to Long Beach , arriving 14 December 1965 . The minesweeper operated along the U . S . West Coast throughout 1966 and sailed for the Far Fast early in 1967 . On 1 March she was off the coast of Vietnam laboring to keep clear the shipping lanes which supply Allied fighters in that war - torn land . She continued to perform this vital duty past mid - year , reaffirming her right to the proud name " Guide " . Final status . " Guide " was struck from the Navy list on 9 July 1972 . Her fate is uncertain : she was either sold to Spain 1 January 1973 or sold for scrapping on 27 January 1974 in California .