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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 Waxbill (AMS-39, later AMCU-50 and MHC-50), 1944-1959, originally named YMS-479

USS YMS-479, a 320-ton auxiliary motor minesweeper, was built at Tacoma, Washington, and commissioned in July 1944. During the rest of World War II, she served along the U.S. West Coast, in Hawaii and in the Central Pacific. Returning to the United States in early 1946, she decommissioned the following August. In February 1947, she was reclassified as a motor minesweeper (AMS) and renamed Waxbill (AMS-39).

Waxbill became a Naval Reserve training ship at Seattle, Washington, in January 1949. After the outbreak of the Korean War in the Summer of 1950, she returned to full commission and was sent to the Far East in February 1951. Over the next four years, Waxbill operated in Japanese and Korean waters, including active Korean War patrol and minesweeping service. She was converted to a coastal minehunter in 1955 and reclassified AMCU-50 (soon changed to MHC-50). In August 1955, she sailed for the U.S., where she spent nearly three more years working off the Pacific Coast. Waxbill decommissioned in June 1958 and was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in November 1959.

This page features views of YMS-479 and USS Waxbill (AMS-39 and MHC-50).

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 79716

USS YMS-479


In San Francisco Bay, California, upon her return to the U.S. after the end of World War II, circa 1945-46.
This ship became USS Waxbill (AMS-39) in 1947.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1974.

Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 115KB; 740 x 575 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 96981

USS Waxbill (AMS-39)


Berthed at the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Training Center, Seattle, Washington, circa April 1949. She had recently attached to the Center to replace USS PC-786 in training Seattle-area Naval Reservists. Other ships assigned to the Seattle facility's "fleet" included USS Rombach (DE-364), USS Puffer (SS-268) and two small landing craft.
Photograph released for publication by 13th Naval District PIO on 13 April 1949.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 114KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-477119

Seige of Wonsan, 1951-53


USS Waxbill (AMS-39) laying a smokescreen while under fire from enemy shore batteries off Wonsan, North Korea. Original photo is dated 12 December 1952.
Note shell splashes near the ship.

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

Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 610 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-477118

Seige of Wonsan, 1951-53


USS Waxbill (AMS-39) maneuvering and laying a smokescreen while under fire from enemy shore batteries off Wonsan, North Korea. Original photo is dated 12 December 1952.

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

Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 615 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 USS Waxbill, taken after her conversion to a coastal minehunter. 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 1078568
    USS Waxbill (MHC-50). Photograph dated 8 August 1955.
    Starboard side surface view.


    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.

    New image added 15 September 1999