List of mine warfare vessels of the United States Navy

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Template:Short description Template:Use American English

Template:USS with four MH-53E minesweeping helicopters on deck, 2001

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This is a list of mine warfare vessels of the United States Navy.

Ship status is indicated as either currently active [A] (including ready reserve), inactive [I], or precommissioning [P]. Ships in the inactive category include only ships in the inactive reserve, ships which have been disposed from US service have no listed status. Ships in the precommissioning category include ships under construction or on order.

Historical overview

Mine warfare consists of: minelaying, the deployment of explosive naval mines at sea to sink enemy ships or to prevent their access to particular areas; minesweeping, the removal or detonation of naval mines; and degaussing, the process of decreasing or eliminating a remnant magnetic field in a ship's hull to prevent its detection by magnetic mines. The US Navy has operated ships and craft for all three purposes. Mine planting is the laying and maintenance of controlled mines for harbor defense, which was traditionally a role of the US Army.

Classifications

Mine warfare ships were originally considered by the US Navy to be either auxiliaries or yard and district craft, and so were given hull classification symbols beginning with either 'A' or 'Y', depending on their capabilities. The exceptions were four converted cargo ships with ID numbers (prior to the modern hull system), certain large 'cruiser' minelayers which were given hull symbols beginning with 'CM', converted destroyers which were given hull symbols beginning with 'DM', and three unclassified civilian cargo ships after World War II.

On 7 February 1955 all of these ships and craft still in service or reserve were reclassed and received new hull symbols beginning with 'M', usually without change of hull number. The exception was the degaussing ships, which retained the 'A' hull symbol.

Modern Littoral Combat Ships use 'L' hull symbols even though they can be used for mine warfare.

Auxiliary minelayers (ACM)

All ACMs except USS Buttress and USS Monadnock were originally US Army mine planters.

Chimo class Template:Div col

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PCE-842 class

Camanche class Template:Div col

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Other classes

Degaussing ships (ADG)

Template:See Template:Div col

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Minesweepers (AM)

USS Lapwing (AM-1)

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USS Osprey (AM-56)

Template:Sclass

The Raven class became Minesweepers, steel hulled (MSF) on 7 February 1955.
USS Pheasant (AM-61)

Template:Sclass

The Auk class became Minesweepers, Steel Hulled (MSF) on 7 February 1955.

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Bullfinch class

Catbird class

Template:Sclass (1940)

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Goshawk class

Goldcrest class

Template:Sclass

All ships of this class were built on PC-461 class submarine chaser hulls, were deemed unsatisfactory as minesweepers, and so were converted back into submarine chasers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Div col

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Template:Sclass

USS Admirable (AM-136)

Template:Sclass Template:Main article

The Admirable class became Minesweepers, steel hulled (MSF) on 7 February 1955.

Template:Div col

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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Algerine class (built for the United Kingdom)

These minesweepers were built for the U.K. and redesignated from an AM hull number to a J hull number. Most were returned to the US at the end of Lend-Lease.

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USS Agile (AM-421) as (MSO-421)

Template:Sclass and Aggressive class

These classes have considerable overlap; some ships are considered both Agile and Agreessive class.Template:By who A few more are occasionally considered Dash class. These classes became Minesweepers, ocean (MSO) on 7 February 1955.

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Accentor or Acme class

The Acme class became Minesweepers, ocean (MSO) on 7 February 1955.

Ability class

The Ability class became Minesweepers, Ocean (MSO) on 7 February 1955.

Other/unknown class Template:Div col

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Auxiliary base minesweepers (AMb)

Coastal minesweepers (AMc)

Pipit class

Goshawk class

Chatterer class

Grosbeak class

Crow class

  • Template:USS, sunk during torpedo training session, Puget Sound, 23 August 1943

Egret class

Frigate Bird class

Reedbird class

Firecrest class

Template:Sclass Template:Div col

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Agile class

Acme class

Admirable class Template:Div col

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PCS-1376 class {{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

The PCS-1376 class of coastal minesweepers were originally Patrol Craft Sweepers (PCS) which lacked minesweeping gear. They were built on 134-foot Template:Sclass hulls and then converted into sonar school ships or back into minesweepers.<ref>Friedman, Small Combatants, pp. 91-93</ref>

Other/unknown classes

Many coastal minesweepers were civilian ships purchased by the US Navy and then converted for use as minesweeper ships. Among them are various designs and makes of yachts, fishing vessels, and other ships.

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Coastal minesweepers (Underwater locator) (AMCU)

On 7 February 1955, all AMCU's were redesignated as Coastal minehunters (MHC). Hull numbers were not changed.

AMCU-7 class

All AMCU-7 class minesweepers were conversions of Landing Craft Infantry (LCI).<ref>Friedman, 2002, pp 148, 581-614</ref>

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YMS-1 class Template:Div col

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PCS-1376 class

Other/unknown classes Template:Div col

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Ocean minesweepers (AMS)

YMS-1 class

Template:Sclass or Bluebird class

The name of this class of ships internationally is Adjutant, named for the Template:USS, which was cancelled and transferred to Portugal as the Ponta Delgada (M 405). The first commissioned ship of this class in the US Navy was the Template:USS, hence its US Navy class name. This class became Minesweepers, coastal (MSC) on 7 February 1955.

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Albatross class

The Albatross class became Minesweepers, coastal (MSC) on 7 February 1955.

Other/unknown classes Template:Div col

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British minesweepers (BAM)

For more vessels of this class see Catherine class minesweeper Template:Div col

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Minelayers (CM)

Template:See Template:See also

  • Template:USS, ex-C-3<ref name=rrb46>Belknap, Reginald Rowan The Yankee mining squadron; or, Laying the North Sea mining barrage (1920) United States Naval Institute p.110</ref>
  • Template:USS, ex-C-5, later Tahoe, Yosemite<ref name=rrb46/>

Aroostook class

Catskill class

  • Template:USS,<ref name=phs>Silverstone, Paul H. U.S. Warships of World War II (1968) Doubleday pp. 205–209</ref> later MM-5, MMF-5
  • Template:USS,<ref name=phs/> later LSV-1, MCS-1
  • Template:USS,<ref name=phs/> later LSV-2, MCS-2

Other/unknown classes and unique ships Template:Div col

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Coastal minelayers (CMc)

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Light minelayers (DM)

Template:Sclass

These ships were originally designated as Wickes class destroyers and later reclassified to light minelayers around 1920.

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Template:Sclass

These ships were originally designated Clemson class destroyers and later reclassified as light minelayers in 1937.<ref name=phs212/>

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Template:Sclass

These ships were originally designated Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers but were converted to Robert H. Smith class destroyer minelayers in 1944. In 1955 they would be reclassified as Fast minelayers (MMD).<ref name=phs212/>

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High speed/Destroyer minesweepers (DMS)

Template:See

Wickes class Template:Div col

  • Template:USS, wrecked by Typhoon Louise Okinawa October 1945<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }})</ref>

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Clemson class Template:Div col

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Gleaves class Template:Div col

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Fletcher class Template:Div col

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Converted steamships and freighters (ID)

Template:See Eight steamships and freighters laid the North Sea Mine Barrage during World War I.<ref name=rrb46/> Template:Div col

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Mine countermeasures ships (MCM)

Avenger class Template:See Template:Div col

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

</ref><ref name=USNI_lost/>

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Mine countermeasures support ships (MCS)

Many Mine Countermeasures Support (MCS) ships were previous vehicle landing, tank landing, dock landing, or amphibious assault ships that were reclassified to the MCS type in later years.

Catskill class

Osage class

LST-542 class

Ashland class

Iwo Jima class

Coastal minehunters (MHC)

On 7 February 1955, all Coastal minesweepers (Underwater locator) (AMCU)s were redesignated as MHCs. Hull numbers were not changed. Bobolink, Bunting, and the Osprey class never had AMCU designations.

LCI(L)-351 class aka AMCU-7 class Template:Div col

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YMS-1 class Template:Div col

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PCS-1376 class

Other/unknown classes

Template:Sclass Template:Div col

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Coastal minelayers (MMC)

Auk class Template:Div col

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LSM-1 class

At least 9 Landing Ship Medium (LSM)s were converted into coastal minelayers for transfer to NATO allies.<ref>Friedman, 2002, pp 521-541</ref>

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unknown class

Fast minelayers (MMD)

Fast Minelayers (MMD) were originally classed as Light minelayers (DM), but were redesignated in 1955. Hull numbers were not changed.<ref name=nvr_MMD>"MMD : MINELAYER, FAST".</ref>

Robert H. Smith class Template:Div col

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Fleet minelayers (MMF)

Catskill class

Minesweepers, coastal (MSC)

All Albatross and Bluebird class MSC vessels were originally classed as Ocean minesweepers (AMS) prior to 7 February 1955. Hull numbers were not changed.

Bluebird class Template:Div col

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MSC-218 class

Albatross class (1960)

Unknown/other class Template:Div col

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Minesweepers, coastal (Old) (MSC(O))

All Ocean minesweepers (AMS) which were originally Template:Sclass minesweepers and still on hand on 7 February 1955 were redesignated as Minesweepers, coastal (Old) (MSC(O)). Hull numbers were not changed.

YMS-1 class Template:Div col

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Minesweepers, steel hulled (MSF)

All MSF vessels were originally classed as Minesweepers (AM) prior to 7 February 1955. Hull numbers were not changed.

Raven class

Auk class Template:Div col

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Admirable class Template:Div col

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Inshore minesweepers (MSI)

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Minesweepers, ocean (MSO)

All MSO vessels were originally classed as Minesweepers (AM) prior to 7 February 1955. Hull numbers were not changed.

Agile or Aggressive class

Ships of this class are variously called Agile or Aggressive class depending on source. Some four ships are also sometimes named as a part of a distinct Dash subclass.

Template:Div col

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Acme class Template:Div col

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Ability class Template:Div col

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

  • MSO-523 to MSO-538 were planned but never built.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Div col end

Minesweepers (Special device) (MSS)

Note that the official classification of these as devices rather than ships accounts for these ships absence of listings among the Navy's ships while designated MSS-1 and MSS-2.

Submarine minelayers (SM)

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

District auxiliary, miscellaneous (YAG)

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Three Liberty ships were converted into experimental minesweepers.

  • Floyd W. Spencer (YAG-36)<ref>YAG-36</ref>
  • John L. Sullivan (YAG-37)<ref>YAG-37</ref>
  • Edward Kavanagh (YAG-38)<ref>YAG-38</ref>

Another Liberty ship, the SS R. Ney McNeely, was also converted into an experimental minesweeper, but was returned to the reserve fleet without having a YAG number assigned.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Degaussing craft (YDG)

Template:See Template:Div col

  • YDG-1
  • YDG-2
  • YDG-3
  • YDG-4, lost off New Caledonia, 1 October 1943<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

  • YDG-5
  • YDG-6, ex-YMS-344
  • YDG-7, ex-YMS-480
  • YDG-8, ex-PCE-876, later ADG-8
  • YDG-9, ex-PCE-879, later ADG-9
  • YDG-10, ex-PCE-883, later ADG-10
  • YDG-11, ex-PCE-919, AM-359, later ADG-11

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Motor mineplanters (YMP)

Template:See

Mineplanters were used to plant and maintain controlled mines for harbor defense; since the US Army had the primary responsibility for these minefields it is likely that the YMP hull designation was seldom used.

Auxiliary motor mine sweepers (YMS)

Template:Sclass

All Auxiliary Motor Mine Sweeper (YMS) ships to date are YMS-1 class, which itself has multiple subclasses.

YMS-1 subclass Template:Div col

|CitationClass=web }})</ref><ref>32 YMS-1 class vessels were lost in US Naval service, 2 in Korea with the AMS classification. (See: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }})</ref>

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  • Template:USS, sunk by a mine off Borneo, 3 April 1945<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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YMS-135 subclass Template:Div col

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YMS-446 subclass Template:Div col

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YMS-482 through YMS-500 were planned but cancelled.

Littoral Combat Ships (LCS)

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:See

The Littoral Combat Ships can carry Mine Warfare Modules which operate unmanned vehicles of various types for mine clearance operations.

Unclassified civilian minesweepers

After the end of World War II three war-damaged civilian ships with skeleton Navy crews and automated engineering spaces were used as minesweepers to trigger still-active US pressure mines in Japanese waters. There ships were not Navy ships and were to be disposed and therefore were not assigned Navy hull classifications. Reportedly no active mines were found.<ref>Looking for trouble, the Guinea Pig Squadron</ref><ref>Pratt Victory photo, mine Hunter</ref>

See also

References

Citations

Template:Reflist

Sources

Museum ships

Template:US Navy navbox Template:WWII US ships

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