The USS Hazard (AM-240) is an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II. Launched on October 1, 1944, and commissioned on December 30, 1944, the vessel was constructed by the Winslow Marine Railway and Shipbuilding Company in Winslow, Washington. Designed for versatility, Hazard was equipped for both wire and acoustic sweeping, allowing it to effectively clear mines and serve as an anti-submarine warfare platform. Additionally, the Admirable class ships like Hazard were utilized for patrol and escort duties. During her service, USS Hazard initially escorted convoys from San Francisco to Pearl Harbor, subsequently operating with convoys to Eniwetok and Ulithi. In March 1945, she was deployed to Okinawa, where she conducted anti-submarine patrols and swept waters off Kerama Retto, supporting the invasion efforts under the motto, "No Sweep, No Invasion." Following the end of hostilities, Hazard helped clear the seas off Korea and Japan in support of occupation forces. Her wartime service earned her three battle stars, highlighting her active role in key Pacific operations. After the war, USS Hazard was decommissioned in 1946 and placed in the reserve fleet. She remained in reserve until she was stricken from the Navy Register in 1971. Subsequently, she was purchased by a group of Omaha, Nebraska businessmen and restored for public display. Her World War II camouflage paint has been preserved, and she now stands as a museum ship at Freedom Park along the Missouri River in East Omaha. She is displayed alongside other historic military vessels and aircraft, serving as a tribute to her service. USS Hazard holds the distinction of being a National Historic Landmark; she is the only remaining Admirable-class minesweeper in the United States. Her sister ship, USS Inaugural, was lost in the Great Flood of 1993. As a preserved vessel, Hazard remains a significant maritime artifact, symbolizing American naval history and mine warfare during World War II.

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