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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive
Warbler (MSC 206)
ex-AM-206
Call sign:
November - Golf - Golf - Bravo
Warbler served the Navies of the United States and the Republic of Fiji.
Redwing Class Motor Mine Sweeper:: Laid down 15 October 1953 as AMS-206 by the Bellingham Shipyards, Inc., Bellingham, WA; Launched, 18 June 1954; Reclassified as a Coastal Minesweeper, MSC-206, 7 February 1955; Commissioned USS Warbler (MSC 206), 26 July 1955; Decommissioned, 1 October 1970 and placed in service as a Naval Reserve Training Ship at Seattle, WA; Placed out of service and struck from the Navy Register, 1 July 1975; Sold 14 October 1975 to the Republic of Fiji as HMFS Kiro (MSC 206); Decommissioned 10 October 1995 and deleted from the Fijian Navy list in 1996. Disposed of by being set on fire at position Lat. 18° 09.6' S, Long. 178° 21.58' E. The designated position for disposal was 19° 30' S, 177° 00' E, however, the unfavourable weather and the very poor material condition of Kiro was such that the mast broke and fell into the sea just as she was being towed out of Suva harbour. Later on the towing pad eye on Kiro was ripped off the deck due to the decks rotten state. Kiro was left to drift onto the reef at the above position and broke in two as she hit the reef. She was doused with fuel and set on fire and burned for some 19 hours. The only pieces left are the ships engines and the very lower part of the hull that is covered at high tide.
Specifications: Displacement 412 t.; Length 145'; Beam 28'; Draft 12'; Speed 12.8 kts; Complement 40; Armament one single 20mm gun mount, two .50 cal. machine guns, one 81mm mortar; Propulsion two 880bhp General Motors 8-268A diesel engines, Snow and Knobstedt single reduction gear, two shafts.
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USS Warbler (MSC 206)
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Paul Wamsley |
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Paul Wamsley |
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Moored between Widgeon (MSC 208) and an unidentified MSC. |
Anthony Mongi |
HMFS Kiro (MSC 206)
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23 January 1986
Right to left, the Fijian navy ships HMFS's Kiro, Kikau [MSC 204], ex-Woodpecker (MSC 209) and Kula [MSC 205],
ex-Vireo (MSC 205) at Suva navy base, on a very foggy morning. |
Ray Smith |
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: The second Warbler (AMS 206) was laid down on 15 October 1953 at Bellingham, Wash., by the Bellingham Shipyards Co.; launched 18 June 1954, sponsored by Mrs. S. A. Blythe; redesignated to MSC-206 on 7 February 1955; commissioned 26 July 1955, at the Naval Station, Tacoma, Wash., LTJG James S. Efelt in command. USS Warbler (MSC 206), coastal minesweeper, nonmagnetic construction, wooden hull and stainless steel, aluminum, and bronze engine and hull fittings.Following shakedown Warbler reported to Commander, Mine Force, Pacific Fleet, and operated locally out of Long Beach for the next year. In August 1956, in company with Whippoorwill, the minesweeper set sail for the Far East, to assume duties as flagship for Mine Division 32. Home porting out of Sasebo, Japan, Warbler would remain in the Far East over the next 14 years, participating in numerous mine exercises with the navies of other friendly far eastern nations such as South Korea, Nationalist China, the Philippines, and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. Warbler conducted numerous tours of duty on "Market Time Patrol" from 1964-1970.Departing Sasebo 17 August 1970, Warbler reached the west coast of the United States on 17 September, in company with Catskill (MCS 1), Vireo
(MSC 205) and Widgeon (MSC 208). On 1 October 1970, Warbler was decommissioned. Simultaneously placed in service as a Naval Reserve Training (NRT) ship, homeported at Seattle, Wash., Warbler commenced her new duties soon thereafter. She trained reservists out of Seattle into the mid-1970's, and was placed on the sale list in July 1975. On 14 October 1975, she was transferred, via cash sale, to the government of Fiji, until decommissioned in 1991, and deleted in 1996.
Warbler (MSC 206) was awarded seven engagement stars for important services on "Market Time Patrol".
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS Warbler (MSC 206) Home Page
Naval Minewarfare Association
Association of Minemen
This page created and maintained by Joseph M. Radigan
© 2005 Joseph M. Radigan © 1996 - 2005 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
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