USS Sturdy (MSO-494) was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships.

Sturdy joined the Mine Force, Atlantic Fleet, at Charleston, South Carolina, on 13 November 1957 and completed fitting out and sea trials.

She participated in various exercises with fleet units of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries and visited ports in Spain, France, Italy, Corsica, Malta, and Gibraltar, before returning to her homeport on 30 May 1959.

In May 1962 she participated in an exercise off North Carolina and then moved south off Cape Canaveral, Florida, to join the recovery forces for Lt. Comdr.

Scott Carpenter's space shot on 24 June 1962, Sturdy proceeded to Panama City, Fla where she was outfitted with the US Navy's first towed Side Scan Sonar.

Sturdy was credited with identifying one Russian Komar Class Torpedo ship proceeding at high speed from Haiti to Cuba.

Upon return to Charleston and a much needed Tender Availability, Sturdy joined USS Swerve on a surveillance cruise to justify President Kennedy's Military Assistance Program for Central America.

On 21 March 1965, the "Sturdy" left Charleston, SC for Cape Kennedy to participate in the Gemini III manned space launch.