USS Hornbill (AMS-19)

USS Hornbill (YMS-371 / AMS-19 / MSC(O)-19) was a YMS-1-class minesweeper of the YMS-135 subclass built for the United States Navy during World War II. After World War II, she continued to be in use until the mid-1950s.

A YMS-1-class minesweeper
History
United States
NameUSS YMS-371
Builder
Laid down17 November 1942[1]
Launched27 November 1943
Completed29 February 1944[1]
Commissioned29 February 1944
RenamedUSS Hornbill (AMS-19), 7 February 1947
Namesakethe hornbill bird
ReclassifiedMSC(O)-19, 17 February 1955
DecommissionedSeptember 1957
Stricken1 November 1959
Honors and
awards
2 battle stars, World War II
FateSold, 30 June 1960; Later sank at Santa Cruz Island[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeYMS-135 subclass of YMS-1-class minesweepers
Displacement270 tons
Length136 ft (41 m)
Beam25 ft (7.6 m)
Draft6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Propulsion
Speed15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement50[1]
Armament

Hornbill was laid down as YMS-371 on 17 November 1942[1] by Weaver Shipyards, Orange, Texas and launched 27 November 1943. She was completed and commissioned on 29 February 1944,[1].

After her commissioning, YMS-371 participated in operations in the Gulf of Mexico until the summer of 1945, when she transited the Panama Canal en route to Okinawa, where she arrived 5 July to begin minesweeping operations. On 17 August, she departed Okinawa for Japan to sweep mines in Tokyo Bay, around the island of Honshū and in the naval base of Sasebo.

On 16 February 1946, she ended her occupation duties and sailed for San Pedro, California, arriving 4 April. On 7 February 1947, YMS-371 was renamed USS Hornbill (AMS-19).

Hornbill served as a training ship on the U.S. West Coast and at Pearl Harbor until 1953, when she commenced duty with the U.S. Naval Schools of Mine Warfare, Yorktown, Virginia.

Reclassified MSC(O)-19 on 17 February 1955, Hornbill decommissioned September 1957. She was struck from the Naval Register 1 November 1959, and sold 30 June 1960.

Hornbill earned two battle stars for her service in World War II.

References

  1. Radigan, Joseph M. (2005). "Hornbill (MSC[O] 19), ex-AMS-19, ex-YMS-371". NavSource Online. NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 2007-12-26.


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