USS YMS-422, a 270-ton YMS-410 class auxiliary motor minesweeper, was built at Astoria, Oregon. Commissioned in September 1944, she initially served along the U.S. West Coast and in Hawaiian waters. With the coming of peace in mid-1945, YMS-422 began a lengthy career in the Western Pacific by participating in mine clearance operations around Japan. In February 1947, as this long task continued, she was redesignated a motor minesweeper (AMS) and renamed Osprey (AMS-28).
In July 1950, soon after the outbreak of the Korean War, Osprey began sweeping mines in the combat zone. During the next few months, she supported the amphibious operations at Pohang, Inchon and Wonsan. Osprey continued minesweeping and patrol operations off Korea until the end of the war in July 1953. She remained in the area for the rest of her U.S. Navy service and was was redesignated MSC(O)-28 in February 1955. The following month, Osprey was loaned to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. Renamed Yakushima, she remained in Japanese service until 1969.
This page features views of USS YMS-422 and USS Osprey (AMS-28).
For additional images related to this ship, see USS Osprey (AMS-28), Ship's Crew
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 84987 USS YMS-422 In San Francisco Bay, California, circa late 1944 or early 1945. This ship later became USS Osprey (AMS-28). Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1976. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 460 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 68536 USS Osprey (AMS-28) Photograph dated 26 April 1952, during the ship's Korean War service. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
![]() |
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 #: 19-N-61183 USS YMS-422 Under construction at the Astoria Marine Construction Company shipyard, Astoria, Oregon, 1 February 1944. This ship became USS Osprey (AMS-28) in 1947. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 144KB; 595 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
For additional images related to USS Osprey, see USS Osprey (AMS-28), Ship's Crew
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."
30 August 1999