USS Chatterer (AMS-40)

USS Chatterer (AMS-40/YMS-415) was a YMS-1-class minesweeper of the YMS-135 subclass acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent ships from passing.

USS YMS-415 In San Francisco Bay, California, c. 1945. Note figure painted on her stack. This ship became USS Chatterer (AMS-40) in 1947
USS YMS-415 In San Francisco Bay, California, c. 1945. Note figure painted on her stack. This ship became USS Chatterer (AMS-40) in 1947.
History
United States
NameUSS Chatterer
Laid down5 October 1943
Launched15 April 1944
Commissioned1 October 1944
Decommissioned16 April 1955
FateTransferred to Japan, 16 April 1955
Acquiredreturned from Japan, 1967
FateSold for scrap, 1 May 1968
History
Japan
NameJDS Yurishima (MSC-661)
Acquired16 April 1955
FateReturned to U.S., 1967
General characteristics
Displacement270 tons
Length136 ft (41 m)
Beam24 ft 6 in (7.47 m)
Draught8 ft (2.4 m)
Propulsiontwo 1,000 shp General Motors diesel engines, two shafts
Speed15 kts
Complement32
Armamentone single 3 in (76 mm) gun mount, two 20 mm, two dcp

History

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Chatterer was laid down, 5 October 1943 by the Stadium Yacht Basin Inc., Cleveland, Ohio; launched, 15 April 1944; completed and commissioned USS YMS-415, 1 October 1944.

She was assigned to the Pacific Ocean, 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 named Chatterer and reclassified as a motor minesweeper, AMS-40, 11 March 1947. Stationed in Japan when the Korean War began in June 1950, Chatterer soon joined the effort to search for and clear enemy mine field's in the combat zone. She was retained in the Western Pacific after the conflict ended and was redesignated as a coastal minesweeper, Old, MSC(O)-40, 7 February 1955.

Chatterer was transferred to Japan 16 April 1955 as Yurishima (MSC 661); in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force; Returned to the U.S. Navy in 1967; Sold for scrap 1 May 1968.

References

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