USS Firecrest (AMS-10)

USS Firecrest (AMS-10/YMS-231) was an YMS-1-class minesweeper of the YMS-135 subclass acquired by the U.S. Navy for clearing coastal minefields during World War II.

USS Firecrest (AMS-10) In a Japanese port, 3 September 1952.
History
United States
Laid down	5 October 1942
Launched	3 April 1943
Commissioned	6 August 1943
Decommissioned	February 1947
In service	date unknown
Out of service	date unknown
Stricken	31 March 1967
Fate	Disposed of as a target in August 1969
History
Japan
Name	JDS Etajima (MSC-656)
Acquired	15 March 1955
Fate	returned to U.S., early 1967
General characteristics
Displacement	270 tons
Length	136 ft (41 m)
Beam	24 ft 6 in (7.47 m)
Draught	8 ft (2.4 m)
Propulsion	two General Motors diesel engines, two shafts
Speed	15 kts
Complement	32
Armament	one single 3 in (76 mm) gun mount, two 20 mm, two dcp

Firecrest was laid down 5 October 1942 by Frank L. Sample, Jr., Boothbay Harbor, Maine; launched, 3 April 1943; completed and commissioned USS YMS-231, 6 August 1943.

She was decommissioned in February 1947; named Firecrest and reclassified as a Motor minesweeper, AMS-10, 18 February 1947.

Firecrest returned to service in the later 1940s. She was sent to Korea in 1950 and operated in the combat zone until the shooting ended in July 1953. Firecrest continued to serve in the Far East after the war. She was reclassified as a Coastal minesweeper, Old, MSC(O)-10, 7 February 1955.

Firecrest was transferred to Japan, 15 March 1955 as Etajima (MSC-656). She was returned to U. S. custody in 1967 and struck from the Naval Register, 31 March 1967. Firecrest was disposed of as a target in August 1969.