The USS Guardian (MCM-5) was an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship of the United States Navy, constructed with a wooden hull reinforced by an external fiberglass coating. Laid down on May 8, 1985, by Peterson Builders in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, the vessel was launched on June 20, 1987, and officially commissioned on December 16, 1989. The Guardian was notable for being the first mine countermeasures vessel in the Seventh Fleet modified for a mixed-sex crew, a change implemented in 2010, which included the addition of separate head facilities for female personnel. This vessel had a significant service history, including an incident in late 2007 when it attempted to seek refuge in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour during a storm but was denied entry by China. The Guardian's primary role involved mine detection and clearance, utilizing its specialized equipment and construction designed for such operations. On January 17, 2013, the USS Guardian ran aground on Tubbataha Reef in the Philippines' protected marine area, while en route from Subic Bay to Indonesia. The vessel was pushed further onto the reef by wave action, and despite efforts to recover her, she was deemed a total loss. The ship was eventually decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on February 15, 2013. Extensive salvage operations ensued, involving cutting the wooden and fiberglass hull into multiple sections, which were lifted from the reef by crane vessels, including the MV Jascon 25. The removal process was completed by late March 2013. The incident highlighted navigational errors partly caused by outdated and inaccurate charts provided by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, which underestimated the reef's position by approximately 7.8 nautical miles. The grounding resulted in environmental damage estimated at around 2,345 square meters of reef, and the United States paid nearly US$2 million in reparations to the Philippines. The event prompted investigations into navigation procedures and leadership, leading to the relief of four officers and a formal apology from the U.S. government. The USS Guardian's sinking emphasized the importance of precise navigation and adherence to safety protocols in maritime operations.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.