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Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper (YMS)
Index


It was 4 March 1941 in the Henry B. Nevins, Inc. Shipyard in City Island, NY, when the the keel was laid of the first United States "Yard class Minesweeper" designed by this company and listed as YMS-1. Launched on 10 January 1942, it was completed two months later on 25 March 1942. This yard held the distinction of building this ship in 3 months, 18 days. The first wooden minesweeper of this class was to gain prominence in all theaters during WW II. A total of 561 were built at various U. S. yards. Originally a class of Motor Minesweepers, "Yard " was added to distinguish them from other classes. Referring to a "Naval Yard or Naval Base." This type was not expected to go beyond adjacent waters from their base. Built at 35 yacht yards, rather than larger shipyards; 12 on the East Coast; 19 on the West Coast, and four in the Great Lakes. It has been established by the U. S. Navy that this is the reason for the "Yard" designation. Records show that YMS' were used in the United States Navy to sweep mines laid by enemy subs as early as 1942 off the ports of Jacksonville, FL and Charleston, SC. One of their greatest losses being on 9 October 1945, when seven U. S. YMS' were sunk in a typhoon off Okinawa. The only significant variation within the type was one of appearance; YM-1 through 134 had two stacks, YMS-135 through 445, 480 and 481 had one, while YMS-446 had none. The wooden-hulled YMS was one of the most durable and versatile ship types built for the Navy during World War II. They served in a variety of roles.


A view of the Robert Jacob Shipyard, City Island, NY, c. July 1944, which shows Harbor Tugs, Vospers, and YMS Auxiliary Motor Minesweepers under construction.
In 1946 the Robert Jacob Shipyard was sold to Consolidated Shipbuilding of Morris Heights. Consolidated then over a 2 year period relocated completely to City Island. Consolidated remained in business until 1957-58, was then sold to Wes Rodstrom who operated yard from 1959 to about 1963 as Rodstroms Yacht Yard then changed the name back somewhat to Consolidated Yacht Yard. Today Consolidated Yacht Yard is still owned by Rodstrom family.

Photo courtesy of the City Island Nautical Museum and Tom Nye.


Click on ship number to view photos/history.

Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper (YMS) Ship Index
YMS-1
YMS-2
YMS-3
YMS-4
YMS-5
YMS-6
YMS-7
YMS-8
YMS-9
YMS-10
YMS-11
YMS-12
YMS-13
YMS-14
YMS-15
YMS-16
YMS-17
YMS-18
YMS-19
YMS-20
YMS-21
YMS-22
YMS-23
YMS-24
YMS-25 Transferred to France
YMS-26
YMS-27
YMS-28
YMS-29
YMS-30
YMS-31
YMS-32
YMS-33
YMS-34
YMS-35
YMS-36
YMS-37
YMS-38
YMS-39
YMS-40
YMS-41
YMS-42
YMS-43
YMS-44
YMS-45 Named/Reclassified Barbet (AMS 41)
YMS-46
YMS-47
YMS-48
YMS-50
YMS-51
YMS-52
YMS-53
YMS-54
YMS-55
YMS-56
YMS-57
YMS-58
YMS-59
YMS-60
YMS-61
YMS-62
YMS-63
YMS-64
YMS-65
YMS-66
YMS-67
YMS-68
YMS-69
YMS-70
YMS-71
YMS-72
YMS-73
YMS-74
YMS-75
YMS-76
YMS-77
YMS-78
YMS-79
YMS-80 Named/Reclassified Albatross (AMS 1)
YMS-81
YMS-82
YMS-83
YMS-84
YMS-85
YMS-86
YMS-89
YMS-91
YMS-94
YMS-100 Transferred to the USSR
YMS-113 Named/Reclassified Brant (AMS 43)
YMS-115
YMS-117
YMS-118
YMS-119
YMS-120 Named/Reclassified Crossbill (AMS 45)
YMS-121
YMS-122
YMS-123
YMS-125
YMS-129
YMS-130
YMS-133
YMS-134
YMS-135
YMS-146
YMS-148
YMS-151
YMS-164 Named/Reclassified Bobolink (AMS 2)
YMS-169
YMS-170 Named/Reclassified Bunting (AMS 3)
YMS-179 Named/Reclassified Cardinal AMS 4)
YMS-183
YMS-184
YMS-185
YMS-186
YMS-187
YMS-188
YMS-192 Named/Reclassified Condor (AMS 5)
YMS-193 Named/Reclassified Fulmar (AMS 47)
YMS-195 Named/Reclassified Chauvenet (AGS 11)
YMS-207
YMS-208
YMS-218 Named/Reclassified Curlew (AMS 8)
YMS-226
YMS-227
YMS-231 Named/Reclassified Firecrest (AMS 10)
YMS-242 Named/Reclassified Harkness (AGS 12)
YMS-260
YMS-262 Named/Reclassified James M. Gilliss (AGS 13)
YMS-263 Named/Reclassified Simon Newcomb (AGS 14)
YMS-266
YMS-268 Named/Reclassified Lapwing (AMS 48)
YMS-271 Named/Reclassified Lorikeet (AMS 49)
YMS-290 Named/Reclassified Nightingale (AMS 50)
YMS-291 Named/Reclassified Reedbird (AMS 51)
YMS-293
YMS-294 Named/Reclassified Redpoll (AMS 57)
YMS-299 Named/Reclassified Rhea (AMS 52)
YMS-302
YMS-304
YMS-305
YMS-306 Named/Reclassified Goldfinch (AMS 12)
YMS-311 Named/Reclassified Robin (AMS 53)
YMS-312 Named/Reclassified Grackle (AMS 13)
YMS-317 Named/Reclassified Grosbeak (AMS 14)
YMS-321 Named/Reclassified Grouse (AMS 15)
YMS-324 Named/Reclassified Gull (AMS 16)
YMS-327 Named/Reclassified Ruff (AMS 54)
YMS-334
YMS-340
YMS-362 Named/Reclassified Hawk (AMS 17)
YMS-369 Named/Reclassified Heron (AMS 18)
YMS-371 Named/Reclassified Hornbill (AMS 19)
YMS-372 Named/Reclassified Hummer (AMS 20)
YMS-374 Named/Reclassified Kite (AMS 22)
YMS-376 Named/Reclassified Lark (AMS-23)
YMS-387
YMS-390
YMS-395 Named/Reclassified Linnet (AMS-24)
YMS-400 Named/Reclassified Magpie (AMS-25)
YMS-402 Named/Reclassified Seagull (AMS-55)
YMS-404
YMS-415 Named/Reclassified Chatterer (AMS-40)
YMS-417 Named/Reclassified Merganser (AMS-26)
YMS-419 Named/Reclassified Mockingbird (AMS-27)
YMS-420
YMS-422 Named/Reclassified Osprey (AMS-28)
YMS-425 Named/Reclassified Siskin (AMS-58)
YMS-430 Named/Reclassified Ostrich (AMS-29)
YMS-437 Named/Reclassified Partridge (AMS-31)
YMS-441 Named/Reclassified Pelican (AMS 32)
YMS-443 Named/Reclassified Redhead (AMS 34)
YMS-444 Named/Reclassified Turkey (AMS 56)
YMS-446 ex-PCS-1393 Named/Reclassified Sanderling (AMS 35)
YMS-447 ex-PCS-1394
YMS-448 ex-PCS-1395
YMS-449 ex-PCS-1398
YMS-450 ex-PCS-1399
YMS-461 Named/Reclassified Swallow (AMS-36)
YMS-475
YMS-479 ex-PC-1456 Named/Reclassified Waxbill (AMS 39)
YMS-542 Named/Reclassified McMinnville (PCS 1401)

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