The USS *Inaugural* (AM-242) was an Admirable-class minesweeper of the United States Navy, launched in 1944 during World War II. Designed for detecting and removing naval mines, the ship played a crucial role in ensuring safe passage for Allied naval forces. It served primarily in the Pacific Theater, participating in the clearing of mines from various harbors and sea lanes, which was vital for the U.S. Navy's operations. After the war, the *Inaugural* continued to serve in various capacities, including as a training vessel, until it was decommissioned in 1947. The ship was later turned into a museum ship in St. Louis, Missouri. However, in 1993, during the Great Flood, the *Inaugural* broke loose from its moorings, capsized, and partially sank, resulting in it becoming a permanent fixture at the bottom of the Mississippi River near its former display location.

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