Minesweeping, or the disposal of naval mines, by these vessels is performed in different ways:

• Sweeping proper, with an underwater cable cutting the mooring cables of moored mines. The mines then come to the surface and are destroyed by gunfire.
• Acoustic sweeping, with a towed device producing noise to trigger acoustic mines.
• Magnetic sweeping, with a towed device producing a magnetic field to trigger magnetic mines. To protect the minesweeper itself against magnetic mines, the hull and superstructure of the ship are made of wood. Other components are made of non-magnetic materials, and any magnetic materials are strictly controlled.

Of the 53 constructed for the United States Navy, 10 were built at Higgins Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana, 9 at J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington, 8 at Wilmington Boat Works Inc., Wilmington, California, 6 at Luders Marine Construction Co. of Stamford, Connecticut, 4 at Broward Marine Inc, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 4 at Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California, 3 at Burger Boat Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 3 at Colberg Boat Works, Stockton, California, 2 at Fulton Shipyard, Antioch, California, 2 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard and 2 at Seattle Shipbuilding and Drydocking Co., Seattle, Washington.

33 of the class were decommissioned before the mid-1970s. Four ex-USN ships were sold to the Republic of China Navy 1994 and re-classed as Yung Yang-class minesweepers. They were still in active service in 2012. USS Implicit was decommissioned 30 September 1994 in Tacoma, Washington and was the last Aggressive-class minesweeper in US Navy active service.

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  A crewman monitors a mine detection and classification sonar console aboard the ocean minesweeper USS Conquest
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  A crewman monitors a mine detection and classification console aboard the ocean minesweeper USS Conquest
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  A paravane used for mine sweeping aboard USS Conquest
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  USS Illusive lowers an acoustical device during an exercise.
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  USS Illusive lowers a different acoustical device for training.
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  USS Illusive deploys a mineweeping cable.
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  USS Constant deploying the "mag-tail", used to simulate the magnetic field of a vessel, are towed behind the ship to trigger magnetic mines.
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  A remote control mine-seeking system, Super Sea Rover, aboard USS Conquest
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  USS Esteem deploys a marker, for marking mines or mine fields.

• HNLMS Onverschrokken (M886) - Dutch Aggressive-class minesweeper

• FAS - MSO-422 class
• GlobalSecurity - MSO-422 class
• ex MSO 483