USS Guardian (MCM-5) is the fifth Avenger Class Mine Countermeasures ship to join the U.S. Navy's fleet and is the second to bear the name Guardian. Her mission is to counter the threat to our forces and our allies from all types of naval mines. USS Guardian represents the most capable mine counter measures platform ever constructed, capable of mine detection, mine neutralization and mine clearance in strategic U.S. and foreign ports and key ocean areas in order to maintain vital commercial shipping lanes.

One of fourteen Avenger Class ships, Guardian was commissioned on December 16, 1989. To accomplish her mine countermeasures mission, she is equipped with an AN/SQQ-32 sonar system and an Alliant Techsystems AN/SLQ-48 Mine Neutralization robot. The hull is constructed of wood laminated with layers of fiberglass. Propulsion is provided by 4 Isotta-Fraschini 600HP engines connected to two controllable pitch propellers. Guardian's length is 224 feet, with a width of 39 feet and a displacement of 1,300 tons. Her maximum speed is around 14 knots.

USS Guardian is assigned to Amphibious Forces Seventh Fleet, forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan.