In late November 2007, Guardian and sister minesweeper Patriot tried refueling and seeking refuge from an approaching storm in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour, but were denied entry without explanation by China.

The modification added no additional sleeping space, but did provide for separate head facilities for female crew members.

On 17 January 2013, following a port call and fuel stop in Subic, Guardian proceeded across the Sulu Sea, and entered the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.

[10] The next day, 18 January 2013, the US Navy evacuated all 79 crew members from the minesweeper to USNS Bowditch, a survey ship and MV C Champion, a submarine and special warfare support vessel.

[7] During the evacuation, another petty officer, one of two SAR swimmers aboard, saved the lives of two of his shipmates for which he was also later awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.

[12] On 20 January 2013, Navy Times reported the ship was taking on water in multiple places and experiencing a slight list to port.

The guided missile destroyer USS Mustin, and salvage ship USNS Salvor arrived in the area to help in the intended extraction, as well as tugboats and Philippine Navy and Coast Guard vessels.

Salvage workers reinforced the wood-and-fiberglass hull of the minesweeper with Kevlar lines to mitigate stresses from waves hitting the vessel.

On 29 January 2013, the US Navy announced the ship would be cut into three sections on the reef prior to removal, resulting in a total loss.

[21] On 8 April 2013, the US Navy turned over digital navigation charts and other evidence, documents and data of Guardian to the Philippine Maritime Casualty Investigating Team (MCIT) and responded to "Technical and Substantive" queries.

NGA failed to publish a correction for the larger scale chart that Guardian was using before the navigation officer ran the ship aground.