 The ship remained in reserve until transferred permanently to the United States Navy which completely gutted the ship in a conversion to become a "device," designated Minesweeper, Special, MSS-1, for the Atlantic Fleet Mine Force research and development project intended to develop an unsinkable hull equipped with magnetic coils to increase its magnetic signature for the detonation of magnetic mines and using its hull pressure to detonate pressure mines.MSS-1 was placed out of service 15 March 1973 and returned to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for disposal on 2 September 1975.