Because of its operational proximity to volatile mines, USS Scout and her class are purposely outfitted with reduced magnetic signatures and low acoustic readings so as not to activate potential dangers in the water. Several remote-controlled systems are also available to the crew so as to reduce direct exposure to such dangers.
As a mine countermeasures platform is not required to take-on the enemy directly in combat, it is modestly armed solely through machine gun installations. This includes 4 x 12.7mm Browning M2 heavy machine guns on single pintle-style mountings, 2 x 7.62mm M240B medium machine guns on single pintle-style mountings and a twin-gunned M240B installation.
For its career, USS Scout has contributed to several foreign humanitarian initiatives as well as taken part in multiple exercises abroad and at home (Hurricane Katrina). It has seen a bulk of its latest operations take place in Persian Gulf waters while being based out to Manama, Bahrain.
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