USS Curlew (AMS-8)

USS Curlew (MSC(O)-8/AMS-8/YMS-218) was a YMS-1-class minesweeper of the YMS-135 subclass built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was the fourth U.S. Navy ship to be named for the curlew.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Curlew.

USS Laertes (AR-20) is flanked by five minesweepers and five motor minesweepers at Sasebo, Japan, in 1952. USS Curlew (AMS-8) is the middle ship of the group on the right.
Laertes (AR-20) is flanked on her port by five minesweepers and on her starboard by five motor minesweepers at Sasebo, Japan, in 1952. USS Curlew (AMS-8) is the middle ship of the second group.
History
United States
NameUSS YMS-218
Builder
Laid down18 July 1942
Launched23 December 1942
Completed23 June 1943
Commissioned23 June 1943
Decommissionedearly 1947
RenamedUSS Curlew (AMS-8), 18 February 1947
Namesakethe curlew bird
RecommissionedJune 1949
ReclassifiedMSC(O)-8, 7 February 1955
MottoWhere the fleet goes, we've been!
FateTransferred to South Korea, 6 January 1956
South Korea
NameROKS Geumhwa (MSC 519)
Acquired6 January 1956
United States
NameUSS Curlew (MSC(O)-8)
Stricken15 November 1974
Fatedisposed, c. 1977
General characteristics
Class and typeYMS-135 subclass of YMS-1-class minesweepers
Displacement270 t.
Length136 ft (41 m)
Beam24 ft 6 in (7.47 m)
Draft8 ft (2.4 m)
Propulsion
Speed15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement32
Armament
Ship caption=A YMS-1-class minesweeper

History

Laid down, 18 July 1942 by the J. N. Martinac Shipbuilding Co. of Tacoma, Washington; Launched, 23 December 1942; Completed and commissioned USS YMS-218, 23 June 1943.

She served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II, and took part in occupation activities in late 1945 and early 1946.

In early 1947, after returning to the U.S. West Coast, she was placed out of commission. YMS-218 was reclassified as a Motor Minesweeper, AMS-8 and named USS Curlew, 18 February 1947. Curlew recommissioned in June 1949.

Curlew was sent to the Western Pacific a year later to support Korean War operations. During most of that conflict, she was active in the combat zone, performing mine clearance and blockade missions. Curlew remained in the Japan-Korea area after the war ended in mid-1953. She was redesignated a Coastal Minesweeper (Old), MSC(O)-8, 7 February 1955.

Curlew was transferred to South Korea on 6 January 1956 as ROKS Geumhwa (MSC 519). Returned from South Korea, the veteran minesweeper was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 November 1974, and was disposed of about 1977.

References
  • Radigan, Joseph M. (2005). "Curlew (MSC[O] 8), ex-AMS-8, ex-YMS-218". NavSource Online. NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 29 December 2007.
  • This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
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