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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

HMS BYMS-2063
ex-HMS J-863
ex-BYMS-63

BYMS-63 was built for Great Britain.

BYMS-1 Class Motor Minesweeper:

Laid down 15 January 1943 as BYMS-63 by Westergard Boat Works, Inc., Biloxi, MS

Launched 12 June 1943

Completed 10 November 1943, transferred to Great Britain and reclassified J-863

Reclassified BYMS-2063

Transferred to the State Department, Foreign Liquidation Commission in February 1948

Returned to U.S. custody 21 April 1948 and sold

Fate unknown.

Specifications:

Displacement 270 t.

Length 136'

Beam 24' 6"

Draft 8'

Speed 15 kts.

Complement 32

Armament: One 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount, two 20mm mounts and two depth charge tracks

Propulsion: Two 880bhp General Motors 8-268A diesel engines, Snow and Knobstedt single reduction gear, two shafts.

Click on thumbnail for full size image	Size	Image Description		Source
	43k	c. 1944 Bombay, India		Mark Squires

Photos from the collection of Able Seaman Richard Squires, Crewmember HM BYMS-2063
Contributed by Mark Squires
C. 1944
Off Bombay, India
(If you know the identity of any of these crew members, please send an email with their names)
Click on thumbnail for full size photo

1. Able Seaman Richard Squires	2.	3. AB Squires on the right	4. AB Squires standing	5.
6.	7. AB Squires standing	8. Wheelhouse	9. Ships mascot	10. Main 3"/50 gun mount
11. Mascot	12. Unidentified British minesweeper	13. Looking aft	14. Detonating a mine	.