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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 Devastator (AM-318, later MSF-318), 1944-1973

USS Devastator, an 890-ton Auk class minesweeper built at Alameda, California, was commissioned in January 1944. During the remaining part of World War II, she served in the Pacific and took part in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and in raids on Japan. Following the War's end, she operated off the U.S. West Coast and in Hawaiian waters until decommissioned in January 1947.

Devastator returned to active service in February 1952 and twice deployed to the Far East over the next two years. In 1952-53, during the first deployment, she was engaged in Korean War minesweeping operations. Devastator was reclassified MSF-318 in February 1955 and was again decommissioned in the following April. Transferred to Mexico in 1973, she was renamed Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada and is still in service with the Mexican Navy.

This page features views of USS Devastator (AM-318).

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 96911

USS Devastator
(AM-318)

Photographed circa 1952, shortly after she was recommissioned for Korean War service.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 178KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
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.

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold at least one other view of Devastator (AM-318), taken during the 1950s. The following list features this image.

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



  • Photo #: USN 1046341
    USS Devastator (AM-318) underway during the early 1950s.
    Port bow aerial view. This photograph was received in December 1959.


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

    The image listed in this box is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain it 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.

    6 September 1999