Auxiliary Motor Minesweepers (YMS)
Encyclopedia
Auxiliary Motor Minesweepers (YMS) were small yard-class minesweepers
commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service during World War II
. The YMS proved so successful as a type that it eventually became the basis for the AMS class of Navy minesweeper.
yards, rather than larger shipyards; 12 on the East Coast; 19 on the U.S. West Coast, and four in the Great Lakes
. It has been established by the U. S. Navy that this is the reason for the "Yard" designation.
, and Charleston, South Carolina
. One of their greatest losses occurred on 9 October 1945, when seven U.S. YMSs were sunk in a typhoon off Okinawa.
The wood-hulled YMS proved to be one of the U.S. Navy's more durable and versatile types through a quarter-century of service, filling a variety of roles for a number of navies.
assaults. Surviving YMS's were reclassified as AMS in 1947, given names, and re-rated as mine warfare
ships; in 1955 they received the new type symbol MSC(O), changed to MSCO in 1967. These ships bore much of the mine warfare burden in Korea
, formed a major portion of our minecraft strength through the 1950s, and provided underway training for Naval Reservists in the 1960s.
A number of YMS were transferred to other navies during or after the war. Five of them served in the German Navy
in different functions for tests, trials, and training. All of them had a civilian crew and were decommissioned between 1975 and 1988.
in November 1969.
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The YMS proved so successful as a type that it eventually became the basis for the AMS class of Navy minesweeper.
Origin of the YMS
It was 4 March 1941 in the Henry B. Nevins Shipyard, Inc. in City Island, New York, when the keel was laid of the first United States "Yard class Minesweeper" designed by this company and listed as YMS-1. Launched on 10 January 1942, it was completed two months later on 25 March 1942. This yard held the distinction of building this ship in 3 months, 18 days.The “Yard” designation
The first wooden minesweeper of this class was to gain prominence in all theaters during World War II. A total of 561 were built at various U.S. yards. Originally a class of Motor Minesweepers, "Yard " was added to distinguish them from other classes. Referring to a "Naval Yard or Naval Base." This type was not expected to go beyond adjacent waters from their base. Built at 35 yachtYacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
yards, rather than larger shipyards; 12 on the East Coast; 19 on the U.S. West Coast, and four in the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
. It has been established by the U. S. Navy that this is the reason for the "Yard" designation.
Use as minesweepers
Records show that YMS were used in the United States Navy to sweep mines laid by enemy submarines as early as 1942 off the ports of Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, and Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. One of their greatest losses occurred on 9 October 1945, when seven U.S. YMSs were sunk in a typhoon off Okinawa.
The wood-hulled YMS proved to be one of the U.S. Navy's more durable and versatile types through a quarter-century of service, filling a variety of roles for a number of navies.
Characteristics
All 481 ships of this type had the same general characteristics. The only significant variation within the type was one of appearance; YMS-1 through 134 had two stacks, YMS-135 through 445, 480, and 481 had one, while YMS-446 through 479 had none.A rich heritage of service
Originally rated as service craft, they were used during World War II for inshore sweeping to prepare the way for amphibiousAmphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
assaults. Surviving YMS's were reclassified as AMS in 1947, given names, and re-rated as mine warfare
Mine warfare
Mine warfare refers to the use of different types of explosive devices:*Land mine, a weight-triggered explosive device intended to maim or kill people or to destroy vehicles...
ships; in 1955 they received the new type symbol MSC(O), changed to MSCO in 1967. These ships bore much of the mine warfare burden in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, formed a major portion of our minecraft strength through the 1950s, and provided underway training for Naval Reservists in the 1960s.
A number of YMS were transferred to other navies during or after the war. Five of them served in the German Navy
German Navy
The German Navy is the navy of Germany and is part of the unified Bundeswehr .The German Navy traces its roots back to the Imperial Fleet of the revolutionary era of 1848 – 52 and more directly to the Prussian Navy, which later evolved into the Northern German Federal Navy...
in different functions for tests, trials, and training. All of them had a civilian crew and were decommissioned between 1975 and 1988.
YMS-327, the last YMS
USS Ruff (MSCO-54), originally YMS-327, the last of her kind in U.S. service, was struck from the Navy ListNavy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
in November 1969.
See also
- British Motor Minesweepers (BYMS)
- USS Brant (AMS-43)USS Brant (AMS-43)USS Brant was a built for the United States Navy during World War II.-History:Brant was laid down as YMS-113 at San Diego, California, by San Diego Marine Construction Co.; launched on 13 February 1942; sponsored by Miss Virginia Sue Blakely; and commissioned on 12 June 1942, Ens...
- USS Curlew (AMS-8)USS Curlew (AMS-8)USS Curlew was a built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was the fourth U.S. Navy ship to be named for the curlew.-History:Laid down, 18 July 1942 by the J. N. Martinac Shipbuilding Co...