- USS Bunting (YMS-170)
USS "Bunting" (YMS-170/AMS-3/MHC-45) was a YMSsub|135 in the
United States Navy duringWorld War II .History
"Bunting" was laid down on 1 October 1942 at
Benton Harbor, Michigan , by the Dachel-Carter Shipbuilding Corp.; launched on 29 May 1943; and commissioned on 23 July 1943 atAlgiers, Louisiana , Lt. J. H. Hawkins,USNR , in command.The motor minesweeper completed fitting out and trials in the
8th Naval District and then got underway for theNorfolk, Virginia . area at the beginning of August. On 11 August, she arrived atLittle Creek, Virginia , whence she conducted shakedown and minesweeping training inChesapeake Bay . Early in September, "YMS-170" stood down the east coast toKey West, Florida , where she arrived on 12 September. After a brief period in drydock for repairs atKey West , she put to sea at the end of the month forPuerto Rico . The motor minesweeper arrived in San Juan on 4 October. For the next 22 months, "YMS-170" operated among the islands of the southeasternCaribbean performing minesweeping operations, escorting warships and merchantmen, conductingantisubmarine patrols and miscellaneous other minor duties.On 20 August 1945, the warship left the
Caribbean on her way to duty on thePacific coast. She arrived at San Pedro,California , on 7 September and began service with the11th Naval District . That assignment, however, proved brief. On 22 October, "YMS-170" stood out of San Pedro on her way to the westernPacific . After stops atPearl Harbor ,Eniwetok , andSaipan , the motor minesweeper arrived in thePhilippines atSamar on Leyte Island on 17 January 1946. In February and March, the warship swept mines inLamon Bay off the southeastern coast ofLuzon . In May, "YMS-170" headed back to theUnited States . She reached San Diego on 17 June and, in July, moved to San Pedro under tow.On 30 July 1946, "YMS-170" was placed out of commission at San Pedro. On 18 February 1947 while still in the reserve fleet, "YMS-170" was named "Bunting" and was redesignated AMS-3. A little more than three years later on 18 July 1950, the warship was placed in commission, in reserve, and assigned to the
11th Naval District . "Bunting" conducted minesweeping exercises out of San Diego until 18 November at which time she put to sea from San Diego on her way toHawaii . She spent almost three years operating in the islands with Mine Divisions (MinDiv) 51 and 71. "Bunting" returned to the west coast atLong Beach, California , on 12 September 1953 and spent the rest of the year engaged in exercises, type training, and other drills.On 15 January 1954, the minesweeper departed Long Beach on her way back to the east coast. After transiting the
Panama Canal , she entered port atCharleston, South Carolina , on 15 February. "Bunting" spent the remainder of her active career assigned to the6th Naval District — based, however, at Key West rather than at Charleston. During that time, she conducted the usual multi- and single-ship mine hunting exercises and drills. In addition, the warship served periodically as a training platform for students at the Fleet Sonar School. Also during that time, she changed designations to MHC-45 on 7 February 1955.On 6 May 1960, "Bunting" was decommissioned at Key West. Her name was struck from the
Naval Vessel Register on 1 June 1960. The minehunter remained inactive at Key West for a little more than two years. Sometime between July and September 1962, she was sunk as a target.References
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See also
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List of United States Navy ships External links
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