- USS Merganser (AMS-26)
USS "Merganser" (AMS-26/AMCU-47/MHC-47) was a YMSsub|135 built for the
United States Navy duringWorld War II .History
"Merganser" was laid down as "YMS-417" by
Stadium Yacht Basin ofCleveland, Ohio on9 January 1944 ; launched29 June 1944 ; and commissioned11 November 1944 .Assigned to the
1st Naval District after commissioning, "YMS-417" operated along the northernNew England coast until20 July 1945 . She then got underway forPearl Harbor and duty with the Pacific Fleet. Arriving inHawaii an waters in October, she was assigned to thePhilippine Sea Frontier and continued her voyage, reporting toComPhilSeaFron in January 1946. The next month she was transferred toMinesweeping Squadron , Pacific Fleet. In January 1947, themotor minesweeper commenced a 9 month tour of minesweeping operations in the western Carolines, Marshalls, and Marianas, giving primary attention to the waters near Truk andGuam . During this period, on17 February she was redesignated AMS-26 and named "Merganser". She was next attached to the Naval Operating Base, Marianas and operated from Guam for the next 3 years, conducting minesweeping exercises and ASW patrols, and providing target towing services. On16 September 1950 "Merganser" departed Guam for Sasebo,Japan , to join the U.N. forces then fighting in and along the coast ofKorea . Within 2 weeks she had joined TF 95 and was participating in action offWonsan .On
1 October 1950 , "Merganser" assisted the 12 survivors of sister ship USS|Magpie|AMS-25|2 when the latter was sunk after hitting a cluster of three 1,000-pound mines. "Merganser" took five of the most severely injured survivors to hospital ship USS|Repose|AH-16|2 of Pusan. [cite web| url = http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/topics/branch_accounts/navy/uss_magpie/p_magpie.htm | title = CASUALTY LIST & ACTION REPORT, USS MAGPIE (AMS-25), Sunk by mine off South Korea,1 October 1950 | first = Vail P. | last = Carpenter | publisher = The Korean War Educator | date =1950-10-10 | accessdate = 2007-12-24 ]She conducted minesweeping operations along the eastern, southern, and western coasts of Korea throughout the police action and remained after the truce as a unit of the Escort and Blockading Patrol. Before leaving the area in mid 1954, she served several tours as observer for truce violations on the truce line off the west coast of Korea. "Merganser" departed Sasebo
21 August 1954 for thePuget Sound Naval Shipyard , where she underwent conversion to AMCU-47, commencing1 October . Upon completion of conversion, she was assigned to the Harbor Defense Unit,Port Townsend, Washington , where she remained until April 1955. With the designation MHC-47 effective7 February 1955 , "Merganser" conducted underwater sound tests atCarr Inlet Acoustics Range inWashington for the first 2 weeks in April and then got underway for duty with the11th Naval District atSan Diego, California . There, until February 1958, she provided target towing and sonar training services, conducted harbor defense exercises, and performedsearch and rescue missions. On2 February 1958 she was attached to the San Diego Group,Pacific Reserve Fleet , and began inactivation overhaul. Two months later,2 April 1958 , after more than 13 years of service, she decommissioned and was berthed at San Diego. She was struck from theNaval Vessel Register 1 May 1959 and on5 May 1960 was sold to Hilburg and Turpin ofLos Angeles, California ."Merganser" received nine
battle star s forKorean War service.References
*
External links
*navsource|11/05026|Merganser
* [http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/topics/branch_accounts/navy/uss_magpie/p_magpie.htm Korean War Educator: USS Magpie Casualty List]
* [http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/memoirs/carlock/index.htm Korean War Educator: Memoirs - Terry Carlock]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.