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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

YMS-374 / AMS-22 / MSC(O)-22 Kite


Kite served the Navies of the United States and the Republic of Korea.

YMS-1 Class Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper: Laid down, 31 January 1943 by the Weaver Shipyards, Orange, TX; Launched, 17 February 1944; Completed and commissioned USS YMS-374, 31 May 1944; Redesignated/Renamed a Motor Minesweeper USS Kite (AMS-22), 18 February 1947; Placed out of commission, in reserve, 18 February 1947; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet; Recommissioned, 9 May 1949; Redesignated a Coastal Minesweeper, (Old) MSC(O)-22, 7 February 1955; Decommissioned, 6 January 1956, at Chinhae, South Korea; Transferred to the Republic of Korea Navy, renamed Kim Po (MSC(O)-520). Fate unknown.

Specifications: Displacement 270 t.; Length 136'; Beam 24' 6"; Draft 8'; Speed 15 kts; Complement 32; Armament one single 3"/50 gun mount, (replaced by one single 40mm gun mount, date unknown) two 20mm gun mounts, two dcp; Propulsion two diesel engines, 1,000shp, two shafts.


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Size Image Description Source
Kite 73k c. 1945-46, San Francisco Bay, seen as YMS-374
U. S. Navy Photo NH 84984
Naval Historical Center
Defense 73k 8 October 1952.
Laertes (AR-20) at Sasebo, Japan, with nine minesweepers and a harbor tug alongside. Ships nested left to right are: Impeccable (AM-320); Gladiator (AM-319); Shoveler (AM-382); Defense (AM-317); Devastator (AM-318); Laertes; Condor (AMS-5); Kite; Curlew (AMS-8); Chatterer (AMS-40) and Wallacut (YTB-420).
U. S. Navy Photo 80-G-632291,
Naval Historical Center
Kite/LST-735 86k c. October 1955
Sasebo, Japan
Kite alongside Dukes County (LST 735)
Stan Cochran
Engineering Officer, USS Kite (1955-56)
Kite 198k c. November 1955, Sasebo, Japan Stan Cochran
Engineering Officer, USS Kite (1955-56)
Kite 131k c. December 1955
Sasebo Harbor, Sasebo, Japan
Just prior to her turnover to the ROK Navy.
Stan Cochran
Engineering Officer, USS Kite (1955-56)
Kite 61k c. January 1956
Chinhae, Korea
LT Kim, ROKN, prospective commanding officer of Kim Po (MSC(O)-520) and LT Donald B. Meek, USN, the last U.S. skipper of USS Kite (MSC(O)-22).
Stan Cochran
Engineering Officer, USS Kite (1955-56)

View the Kite (AMS-22)
DANFS History entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site. The main archive for the DANFS Online Project.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Naval Minewarfare Association
Association of Minemen
Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Mine Warfare Ship Photo Index Back to the Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper (YMS) Photo Index Back to the Motor Minesweeper (AMS) Photo Index Back to the Coastal Minesweeper (MSC) Photo Index

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This page created by Gary P. Priolo and maintained by Joe Radigan
© 1999-2003 Gary P. Priolo © 1999-2003 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.