USS Esteem (AM-438/MSO-438) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

The first ship to be named Esteem by the Navy, AM-438 was launched 20 December 1952 by Martinolich Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California; sponsored by Mrs. C. H. Davis; reclassified MSO-438, 7 February 1955; and commissioned 10 September 1955.

Deployed to Persian Gulf from 1987 to 1990 under President Reagan's direction to protect the world's oil supply from the threat of Iranian mines (the "Tanker War").

Esteem sailed out of Long Beach, California, her first home port, for training in mine warfare and minesweeping exercises along the U.S. West Coast until 4 March 1957, when she departed for her first tour of duty with the U.S. 7th Fleet in the Far East.

Returning to Long Beach in September 1957, Esteem resumed her west coast operations for the next year, then sailed 6 October 1960 for exercises with the Royal Canadian Navy off Nootka Sound, British Columbia.