On the humble minesweeper falls duties which are at the same time drab and dangerous. Small in size, comparatively slow, the minesweeper must still take its place in the van of every important amphibious operation. Out in front of the land-sea force, at the mercy of enemy guns and planes, the plodding little craft performs the all-important task of sweeping the off-shore waters of enemy mines--running interference for the sluggers and transports. The high-speed minesweepers work with the fleet. The remaining types--motor minesweepers, coastal minesweepers and fleet minesweepers--have tasks that are less glamorous but equally as vital: sweeping for convoys, and patrolling our own coastal waters.

She looks unromantic, but the TAPACOLA, an AMc, or coastal minesweeper, has an important job to do--and she does it well.
U.S. Navy photo 00R-43642, Released 14 November 1943