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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

PCS-1456
YMS-479
Waxbill (AMS 39)
AMCU-50 / MHC-50



YMS-479 call sign:
November - Quebec - Zulu - Zulu

YMS-1 Class Auxiliary Motor Mine Sweeper: Laid down as PCS-1456, 28 April 1943 at Mojean and Ericson Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma WA; Redesignated YMS-479, 27 September 1943; Launched, 30 September, 1943; Completed and commissioned USS YMS-479, 20 July 1943; Decommissioned, 6 August 1946 at San Diego, CA; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group; Reclassified a Motor Minesweeper and renamed Waxbill (AMS-39), 18 February 1947; Placed in service, 19 January 1950 for duty as a Naval Reserve training ship at Seattle, Washington; Placed in commission, in reserve, 1 September 1950; Recommissioned, 25 September 1950; Converted to a Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator), AMCU-50. 1 February 1955; Reclassified a Coastal Minehunter MHC-50, 7 February 1955; Decommissioned, 30 June 1958 at Stockton, CA; Struck from the Naval Register, 1 November 1959. 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, two 20mm, two dcp; Propulsion two General Motors diesel engines, two shafts.
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Size Image Description Source
Waxbill 117k Seen here as YMS-479 in San Francisco Bay, upon her return to the US after the end of World War II, circa 1945-46.
US Navy photo (NH 79716)
US Naval Historical Center
Waxbill 117k Seen here as Waxbill (AMS-39) berthed at the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Training Center, Seattle, Washington, c. April 1949. She had recently been attached to the Center to replace
PC-786 in training Seattle-area Naval Reservists.
US Navy photo (NH 96981)
US Naval Historical Center
Waxbill 91k Seen here as Waxbill (AMS-39) maneuvering and laying a smokescreen while under fire from enemy shore batteries off Wonson, North Korea, 12 December 1952
US Navy photo 80-G-477118 now in the National Archives
US Naval Historical Center
Waxbill 98k Seen here as Waxbill (AMS-39) laying a smokescreen while under fire from enemy shore batteries off Wonson, North Korea, 12 December 1952.
US Navy photo 80-G-477119 now in the National Archives
US Naval Historical Center

View the Waxbill (AMS-39)
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 Mine Sweeper (AMS) Photo Index Back To The Mine Hunter (AMCU / Coastal Mine Hunter (HMC Photo Index

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This page created by Gary P. Priolo and maintained by Joseph M. Radigan
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