Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Merganser (AMS-26, later AMCU-47 and MHC-47), 1944-1960, originally named YMS-417

USS YMS-417, a 272-ton YMS-1 class auxiliary motor minesweeper, was built at Cleveland, Ohio. Commissioned in November 1944, she served along the New England coast until mid-1945 and then transferred to the Pacific. YMS-417 spent the rest of the decade in the Philippines and the Central Pacific. She was redesignated a motor minesweeper (AMS) in February 1947 and renamed Merganser (AMS-26).

Merganser deployed to the Far East in September 1950 and began operations in and around Korean waters, providing minesweeping and patrol support for the Korean War effort. Among her many activities during this time was participation in the dangerous minesweeping efforts off Wonsan, North Korea, in the Fall of 1950. She returned to the U.S. in mid-1954, was converted to a coastal minehunter and redesignated AMCU-47 (changed to MHC-47 in February 1955). Over the next three years, she served along the U.S. West Coast on local patrol, training and support duties. Merganser decommissioned in April 1958 and was sold in May 1960.

This page features views of USS YMS-417 and USS Merganser (AMS-26, AMCU-47 & MHC-47).

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: 80-G-422161

Opening of Wonsan, October 1950


USS Merganser (AMS-26) tied up to USS Conserver (ARS-39) in Wonsan Harbor, Korea.
Photographed by AFAN W.C. Newbill. The original photo is dated 23 October 1950.
Note navigation bouy on Conserver's after deck and ships in background, including another AMS and a high-speed minesweeper (DMS).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 116KB; 740 x 595 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-424597

Korean War Minesweeping


Four U.S. Navy minesweepers (AMS) tied up at Yokosuka, Japan, following mine clearance activities off Korea. Original photo is dated 30 November 1950.
These four ships, all units of Mine Division 31, are (from left to right):
USS Merganser (AMS-26);
USS Osprey (AMS-28);
USS Chatterer (AMS-40) and
USS Mockingbird (AMS-27).
Ship in the extreme left background is USS Wantuck (APD-125).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 141KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 68589

USS LST-735
(at right)

Serving as "mother ship" for seven minesweepers, probably in a Japanese port, circa 1952-54.
Ships nested alongside are (from left):
USS Gull (AMS-16);
USS Firecrest (AMS-10);
USS Condor (AMS-5);
USS Merganser (AMS-26);
USS Osprey (AMS-28);
USS Competent (AM-316) and
USS Chief (AM-315).

Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute, James C. Fahey Collection.

Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: USN 1045939

USS Merganser (MHC-47)


Photographed circa 1955-58.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 615 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1045939.

 
Photo #: 80-G-443316

Opening of Wonsan, October 1950


Republic of Korea minesweeper YMS-516 sinking in Wonsan harbor, 18 October 1950, after she detonated a magnetic mine during sweeping operations west of Kalma Pando.
USS Redhead (AMS-34) is just to the right of the sinking ship, rescuing survivors, as is another minesweeper to the left.
Photographed from USS Merganser (AMS-26).
ROK YMS-516 was originally the U.S. Navy's YMS-148, which had served in the British Navy in 1943-46.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-424557

Lieutenant(Junior Grade) Alvin L. Short, USN
(left) and
Lieutenant Commander Kyu Nam Chu, Republic of Korea Navy

Discuss minesweeping operations while on board USS Dixie (AD-14), in Korean Waters.
The original photo is dated 22 November 1950.
LtJG Short commanded USS Merganser (AMS-26) during initial Korean War service, beginning with her deployment from Guam in mid-September 1950.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 19-N-67893

USS YMS-417


Fitting out at the Stadium Yacht Basin, Cleveland, Ohio, 10 July 1944.
This ship later became USS Merganser (AMS-26).

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 625 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 19-N-67894

USS YMS-417


Fitting out at the Stadium Yacht Basin, Cleveland, Ohio, 10 July 1944.
This ship later became USS Merganser (AMS-26).

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 640 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other views of USS Merganser, taken after her conversion to a coastal minehunter. The following list features some of these images:

The images listed below are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.".


  • Photo #: USN 1106369
    USS Merganser (MHC-47) underway circa 1955-58.
    Port bow aerial view. This photograph was received in October 1964.

  • Photo #: USN 1106385
    USS Merganser (MHC-47) underway circa 1955-58.
    Starboard broadside aerial view. This photograph was received in October 1964.


    Reproductions of these images should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The images listed in this box are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.".


  •  

    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    30 August 1999