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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 Swallow (AMS-36, later MSC(O)-36), 1944-1955, originally named YMS-461

USS YMS-461, a 320-ton auxiliary motor minesweeper built at Cleveland, Ohio, was commissioned in June 1944. She served in the Western Atlantic area until March 1945, then transferred to the Pacific. Following a few months' operations at Okinawa, YMS-461 joined the initial Post-war minesweeping activities in Japanese waters. She returned to the United States in March 1946, but was sent back to Japan late in that year. In February 1947, she was redesignated a motor minesweeper (AMS) and renamed Swallow (AMS-36).

Swallow spent the next eight years in operations around Japan and Korea, including participation in the Korean War. Redesignated MSC(O)-36 in February 1955, she was transferred to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force a few months later and renamed Yugeshima. Returned to U.S. custody in May 1968, she was sold for scrapping in September 1969.

This page features views of YMS-461 and USS Swallow (AMS-36).

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 #: NH 84992

USS YMS-475
and
USS YMS-461

In San Francisco Bay, California, shortly after the end of World War II, circa late 1945 or early 1946.
YMS-461 later became USS Swallow (AMS-36).

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1976.

Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 440 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-423775

USS Swallow (AMS-36)
and
USS Gull (AMS-16)

Tied up at Chinnampo, North Korea, in November 1950, after taking part in clearing a channel more that sixty miles from out in the Yellow Sea and up the Taedong River to that city.
Note flags and sweep gear at the ships' sterns, including depressors hanging over the transoms, otters on deck and floats and cable reels further forward.

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

Online Image: 121KB; 740 x 610 pixels

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

 


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


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5 September 1999