USS YMS-443, a 320-ton auxiliary motor minesweeper, was built at Kingston, New York. Commissioned in December 1944, she saw routine wartime service in the Central Pacific before participating in the later stages of the Ryukyus campaign. With the arrival of peace, she was involved in mine clearance operations in Japanese waters until returning to the United States in March 1946. Later in that year, YMS-443 was again sent to the Central Pacific to clear mines. In February 1947, she was redesignated a motor minesweeper (AMS) and renamed Redhead (AMS-34).
In 1948, Redhead again went to Japan, where she continued sweeping the persistent wartime mines. She played an active mine countermeasures role off Korea beginning in July 1950, shortly after the outbreak of the war there, and also carried out blockade patrols. Redhead remained in Korean waters after the July 1953 cease-fire. In 1954, she was converted to a coastal minehunter and was redesignated AMCU-48 (changed to MHC-48 in February 1955). Returning to the U.S. waters in May 1955, Redhead operated off the west coast until decommissioned in December 1957. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in November 1959 and subsequently disposed of.
This page features views of USS Redhead (AMS-34).
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Photo #: NH 85779 USS Redhead (AMS-34) Underway, circa 1952-54. This ship was originally USS YMS-443. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 620 pixels |
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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. |
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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. |
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If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."
4 September 1999