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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 Mine Sweeper: 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 (AMS-22);
Curlew (AMS-8);
Chatterer (AMS-40) and
Wallacut (YTB-420).
U. S. Navy Photo 80-G-632291,
Now in the collections of the National Archives.
Naval Historical Center
Kite 198k November 1955, Sasebo, Japan Stan Cochran
Engineering Officer, USS Kite (1955-56)
Kite 131k Sasebo Harbor, Sasebo, Japan just prior to her turnover to the ROK Navy. December 1955. 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 Mine Sweeper (YMS) Photo Index Back To The Motor Mine Sweeper (AMS) Photo Index

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This page created by Gary P. Priolo and maintained by Joseph M. Radigan
© 2003 Joseph M. Radigan © 1996 - 2003 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.