USS Illusive ( AM - 448 ) USS " Illusive " ( AM - 448 / MSO - 448 ) 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 . " Illusive " ( " AM - 448 " ) was launched by Martinolich Ship building Co . , San Diego , California , 12 July 1952 ; sponsored by Mrs . Vito Marino ; and commissioned 14 November 1953 , Lt . Comdr . J . E . Ruzic in command . West Coast operations . After shakedown and individual ship training out of Long Beach , California , during 1954 , the ship entered Long Beach shipyard for extensive modifications October 1954 to February 1953 . She was reclassified " MSO - 448 " 7 February 1955 . She continued to operate out of Long Beach , taking part in a major U . S . Pacific Fleet training exercise in November 1955 . For the next year she trained in California waters . Illusive replaces her engines . " Illusive " again entered the yard in November 1956 , this time to replace her engines with experimental Packard models , and until May 1957 was engaged in engineering evaluation trials . She then sailed for her first deployment to the Far East 1 August 1957 . Through December she took part in the vital operations of the U . S . 7th Fleet for the maintenance of peace and security in East Asia . She took part in joint exercises with Japanese naval units 6 – 9 October and with the Chinese Nationalist Navy 15 to 17 December 1957 . " Illusive " returned to Long Beach 15 February 1958 . Second Far East deployment . The remainder of 1958 was spent in training operations out of Long Beach . In 1959 she remained in California waters , and took part in a large amphibious exercise off Camp Pendleton . " Illusive " then made - ready for her second deployment to the western Pacific , sailing 8 January 1960 for Japan . During this critical period , in which American Navy ships were increasingly active in helping to prevent Communist takeover of the countries of Southeast Asia , the minesweeper carried out maneuvers off Japan , the Philippines , and Okinawa . " Illusive " returned to Long Beach 19 July 1960 . Thailand operations . The year 1961 saw the ship return to the Far East . She sailed 24 August and operated in the Philippines as well as out of Guam and Formosa . She moved to Sattahib , Thailand , 25 November , as American ships demonstrated support for that nation , and in December visited Bangkok , Thailand , and Saigon , capital of South Vietnam . During this period " Illusive " conducted training exercises with several Southeast Asian navies . She was particularly active in training South Vietnam ese officers and men until sailing for Long Beach 3 March 1982 . The veteran ship returned to the far Pacific in August 1963 and after stopping at island bases along the way arrived Sasebo 23 September . In the months that followed " Illusive " took part in U . S . 7th Fleet training with Korean , Nationalist Chinese and Japanese minesweepers . She returned to Long Beach 7 March 1964 for yard overhaul , followed by refresher training off the coast of southern California . Supporting Operation Market Time . On 13 August 1965 " Illusive " departed Long Beach for training in the Pacific Ocean that took her to Hawaii , the Marshalls , the Marianas , and the Philippines . She stood out of Subic Bay 2 October 1965 to join the " Market Time Patrol " vigilantly trying to stop the coastal flow of contraband by junks and boats to Vietcong the full length of Vietnam ' s 1 , 000 mile coastline . Her patrol service may include acting as a mother ship for replenishing the needs of " Swift " boats , providing gunfire support to U . S . forces ashore , or conducting a hydrographic survey on shoreline depths , in addition to patrolling thousands of miles within the inspection zone to intercept Vietcong men and supplies . " Illusive " continued this vital duty until she turned homeward in February 1966 . The minesweeper reached Long Beach 28 April . She operated along the U . S . West Coast for the remainder of 1966 and into 1967 . Returned from a Westpac deployment in April 1969 . Final status . " Illusive " was finally decommissioned on 30 March 1990 and was stricken from the Naval Register on 1 June 1990 . She was sold by Navy sale for scrap on 9 February 1993 for the sum of $ 12 , 000 .