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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 Chatterer (AMS-40, later MSC(O)-40), 1944-1955, originally named YMS-415

USS YMS-415, a 272-ton auxiliary motor minesweeper, was built at Cleveland, Ohio. Commissioned in October 1944, she was assigned to the Pacific, where she participated in operations off Okinawa in June 1945. Following the Japanese surrender, YMS-415 was active in mine clearance efforts in the vicinity of Japan. She was redesignated a motor minesweeper (AMS) in February 1947 and renamed Chatterer (AMS-40).

Stationed in Japan when the Korean War began in June 1950, Chatterer soon joined the effort to search for and clear enemy minefields in the combat zone. She was retained in the Western Pacific after the conflict ended and was redesignated MSC(O)-40 in February 1955. Chatterer was loaned to Japan the following April and renamed Yurishima for service in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. Returned to the U.S. Navy in 1967, she was sold for scrapping in September 1969.

This page features views of USS YMS-415 and USS Chatterer (AMS-40).

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 79712

USS YMS-415


In San Francisco Bay, California, circa 1945.
Note figure painted on her stack.
This ship became USS Chatterer (AMS-40) in 1947.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1974.

Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 110KB; 740 x 575 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 #: 80-G-632291

USS Laertes (AR-20)


At Sasebo, Japan, with nine minesweepers and a harbor tug alongside. Original photo is dated 8 October 1952.
Ships nested to left of Laertes are (from left):
USS Impeccable (AM-320);
USS Gladiator (AM-319);
USS Shoveler (AM-382);
USS Defense (AM-317) and
USS Devastator (AM-318).
Those nested to right are (from left):
USS Condor (AMS-5);
USS Kite (AMS-22);
USS Curlew (AMS-8);
USS Chatterer (AMS-40) and
Wallacut (YTB-420).

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

Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-422081

Mine Division Thirty-One


Commanding Officers in conference off Korea, 26 October 1950. Probably taken in the wardroom of USS Incredible (AM-249), off Wonsan.
Those present are identified in Photo # 80-G-422081 (Complete Caption).

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

Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 620 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 19-N-67890

USS YMS-415


Fitting out at the Stadium Yacht Basin, Cleveland, Ohio, 10 July 1944.
This ship later became USS Chatterer (AMS-40).

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

Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 625 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 19-N-67889

USS YMS-415


Fitting out at the Stadium Yacht Basin, Cleveland, Ohio, 10 July 1944. Structure in the left background appears to be a sports stadium.
This ship later became USS Chatterer (AMS-40).

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

Online Image: 122KB; 740 x 625 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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31 August 1999