USS Hummingbird (AMS-192)

USS Hummingbird (AMS-192) was a "Bluebird"-class motor minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for clearing coastal minefields.

The second ship to be named "Humming Bird" by the Navy, usually spelled Hummingbird (MSC-192), was originally classified: AMS-192, but reclassified 7 February 1955. She was launched by Quincy Adams Yacht Yard, Inc., Quincy, Massachusetts, 27 January 1954; sponsored by Mrs. Felice Low; and commissioned 9 February 1955, Lt. (j.g.) W. J. Whitley in command.

East Coast operations

Following shakedown training off Key West, Florida, in June, "Hummingbird" underwent minesweeping training at Charleston, South Carolina, in July. From 21 October to 14 November she took part in her first amphibious exercises, sweeping the landing area and dropping marker buoy to guide the simulated assault on the shores of North Carolina. Arriving New York 8 January 1956, she took part in surveying work for the Hydrographic Office until 15 February, after which "Hummingbird" returned to Charleston.

Participating in NATO exercises

During 1957 and 1958 the ship was based at Mine Warfare School, Yorktown, Virginia, and in March 1958 she participated in another large amphibious operation at Onslow, North Carolina. In 1959 she shifted her home port to the amphibious base at Little Creek, Virginia, and continued to perform minesweeping duties during the periodic practice assaults on the Atlantic coast. She arrived Halifax, Nova Scotia, 6 October 1960 to take part in Sweep Clear V, a NATO minesweeping exercise with Canadian mine craft, returning to Little Creek 26 October. In July 1961 "Hummingbird" repeated this highly successful combined exercise in Canadian waters.

Cuban crisis alert status

The year 1962 saw more rigorous mine warfare training for "Hummingbird", with amphibious operations at Onslow and in the Caribbean. The versatile ship also took part in a search for a downed Air Force plane off Delaware 1 June before departing for Panama City, Florida, to take part in mine experiments. September included a third NATO minesweeping exercise. As American naval power quarantined Cuba in October, "Hummingbird" stood ready in case larger operations were necessary, and in early 1963 took part in patrols off Cuba. From 1963 to 1967 the veteran minesweeper continued her training and readiness operations, a vital part of America's fighting power on the seas.

Decommissioning

Hummingbird was transferred to Indonesia in 1971 as "Pulau Impalasa" (M 720); struck from the Naval Register, 1 May 1976; returned to U.S. custody; and, disposed of through the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service for scrap, 1 September 1976.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h9/humming_bird-ii.htm

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/05192.htm NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive - Hummingbird (MSC 192) - ex-AMS-192]