From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Minesweeper of the United States Navy
For other ships with the same name, see
USS Osprey
.
|
History
|
United States
|
Operator
| US Navy
|
Ordered
| as
USS YMS-422
|
Builder
| Astoria Marine Construction
|
Laid down
| 9 October 1943
|
Launched
| 1 June 1944
|
Commissioned
| 27 September 1944
|
Decommissioned
| post-
Korean War
|
Stricken
| 15 June 1969
|
Fate
|
- Loaned to Japan, 22 March 1955
- Sold for scrap, 1969
|
Japan
|
Name
| JDS
Yakushima
(MSC-658)
|
Acquired
| 22 March 1955
|
General characteristics
|
Displacement
| 270 tons
|
Length
| 136 ft (41 m)
|
Beam
| 24 ft 6 in (7.47 m)
|
Draught
| 10 ft (3.0 m)
|
Speed
| 13 knots
|
Complement
| 34
|
Armament
| one
3 in (76 mm)
gun mount
, two
20 mm
machine guns
, two
depth charge
tracks
|
USS
Osprey
(AMS-28/YMS-422)
was a
YMS-1
-class
minesweeper
of the
YMS-135
subclass
built for the
United States Navy
during
World War II
. She was the third U.S. Navy ship to be named for the
osprey
.
History
[
edit
]
YMS-422
was laid down 9 October 1943 at the
Astoria Marine Construction
,
Astoria, Oregon
; launched 1 June 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Charles S. Harper, Jr.; and commissioned 27 September 1944.
World War II service
[
edit
]
YMS-422
patrolled off the California coast until reporting for duty with the
Hawaiian Sea Frontier
early in January 1945. Patrol activities interspersed with minesweeping training absorbed her time until mid-summer when she sailed to the western Pacific Ocean. The approaching end of the war would not and did not end the need for vessels of this type. The removal of minefields around the
Japanese
home island of
Honsh?
provided the first extensive test of
YMS-422's
skill at this hazardous work. Operations commenced at
Nagoya
18 October, continued at
Kobe
in December, and this craft was still partially engaged with this task at the outbreak of the
Korean War
in 1950.
Korean War service
[
edit
]
Previously named and designated
Osprey
(
AMS-28
), 17 February 1947, this wooden-hulled ship now sailed directly to help confront this latest communist advance.
Osprey
made a pre-assault sweep at
Pohang
14 July 1950 to clear the way for the
1st Cavalry Division
. 15 September her sweeps prepared a firing base anchorage for the big guns of the
battleship
USS
Missouri
(BB-63)
at the masterful
Inchon
landings.
The following month, while engaged in clearing
Wonsan
Bay,
North Korea
, two sister ships struck mines and sank. One year later, again at Wonsan, and again operating under enemy fire she suffered 3 shell hits, 29 October which necessitated a brief retirement to Japan. Upon return, her continuing aggressive spirit in seeking out and firing on enemy targets ashore and record breaking performance in mine destruction earned medals and promotions for members of the ship's company. Her sterling performance continued until negotiations produced a truce 27 July 1953.
Osprey
, redesignated
MSC(O
), 7 February 1955, was destined to conclude her career in the Far East. Loaned to the
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force
, 22 March 1955, she served as
Yakushima
(YTE-10) until 1969. Declared surplus to the needs of both the Japanese and United States navies she was struck from the
Navy Directory
15 June 1969.
Awards and honors
[
edit
]
YMS-422
, received 2
battle stars
for post-
World War II
operations and, as
AMS-28
, 10
battle stars
for Korean War service.
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]