About the Book
Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 111. Not illustrated. Chapters: Avenger Class Mine Countermeasures Ships, Harkness Class Minehunters, Osprey Class Minehunters, Uss Waxbill, Uss Pioneer, Uss Redhead, Uss James M. Gilliss, Uss Patriot, Uss Scout, Uss Merganser, Uss Harkness, Uss Minah, Uss Bunting, Uss Sanderling, Uss Avenger, Uss Gull, Uss Bobolink, Uss Warrior, Uss Champion, Uss Sentry, Uss Raven, Uss Guardian, Uss Defender, Uss Shrike, Uss Ardent, Uss Dextrous, Uss Pelican, Uss Gladiator, Uss Chief, Uss Heron, Uss Devastator, Uss Robin, Uss Kingfisher, Uss Black Hawk, Uss Cardinal, Uss Cormorant, Uss Falcon, Uss Oriole, Uss Osprey. Excerpt: USS Waxbill (MHC-50/AMCU-50/AMS-39/YMS-479/PCS-1456) was a YMS-1-class minesweeper of the YMS-446 subclass acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines placed in the water to prevent ships from passing. The second U.S. Navy ship named for the waxbill bird, the ship was originally the wooden-hulled, unnamed motor minesweeper YMS-479. Laid down as PCS-1456 on 28 April 1943 at Tacoma, Washington, by the Mojean and Ericson Shipbuilding Corp., the ship was reclassifled as a motor minesweeper, YMS-479, on 27 September 1943. Launched on 30 September 1943, YMS-479 was commissioned at the Mojean and Ericson yard on 20 July 1944, Lt. Richard A. Woods, USNR, in command. After fitting out at the Todd Pacific Shipyard, Tacoma, Washington, the new minecraft departed the Seattle, Washington, area on 13 August. Making port at Long Beach, California, on 17 August, she conducted shakedown out of that port until 8 September, when she shifted to San Diego, California, for training in antisubmarine warfare tactics. She departed San Diego on 25 September, when she sailed with YMS-59 as screen for tank landing ships LST-627, LST-1030, and LST-926, bound for the Hawaiian Islands. After arriving at the Section Base, Pearl Harbor, on 6 O...
