The USS Reaper (MSO-467) was an Agile-class minesweeper built for the U.S. Navy, designed to locate and remove naval mines to ensure safe passage for ships. She was laid down on 15 May 1952 by Wilmington Boat Works in Wilmington, California, launched on 25 June 1954, and commissioned on 10 November 1954. As an MSO (Minesweeper, Ocean), the Reaper featured the typical construction of her class, optimized for mine countermeasure operations in both coastal and open ocean environments. Following her commissioning, the Reaper underwent shakedown training before heading to the western Pacific in May 1956. Her early service included participation in training exercises off Taiwan with the Republic of China and assisting in the search for a P4M aircraft shot down by Communist China. Throughout 1957 and early 1958, she conducted training off California. Her deployment schedule included numerous cruises to the western Pacific, visiting ports such as Sasebo, Japan; Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Chinhae, Korea; Sattahip, Thailand; and Subic Bay, Philippines. Notably, she participated in exercises with allied navies, including the Philippine and Nationalist Chinese navies, and took part in SEATO exercises off Manila Bay. Reaper's operational duties extended to Arctic exercises near Kodiak, Alaska, and active patrols during the Vietnam War, including participation in Operation Market Time off Vietnam in late 1966 and early 1967. Her Vietnam service also involved patrolling and supporting boarding operations, notably coming under mortar fire near Vung Tau in early 1970. Her final Western Pacific deployment occurred in fall 1969, under Lt Cmdr Robert Kahler, and included duties such as patrols and visits to ports in Korea and Thailand. After returning to the U.S. in May 1970, she served as a Naval Reserve training ship until her decommissioning on 22 September 1972. Subsequently, the Reaper was transferred to the Ships Inactivation and Maintenance Facility at Vallejo, California, and was stricken from the Navy list on 28 February 1975. She was disposed of by Navy sale on 1 November 1976, ending her active service. The USS Reaper's operational history reflects her role in Cold War naval mine countermeasures and her participation in key military exercises and patrols in the Pacific region.

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