USS Lark (AMS-23)

History
United States
NameUSS YMS-376.
Builder
Laid down5 January 1943
Launched13 March 1943
Commissioned10 August 1943
Decommissioned5 June 1946
RenamedUSS Lark (AMS-23), 17 February 1947
Namesakethe lark bird
Recommissioned8 November 1950
Decommissioned13 November 1953
ReclassifiedMSC(O)-23 on 7 February 1955
Homeport
Honors and
awards
3 battle stars, World War II
FateTransferred to Japan, 14 February 1959
History
Japan
NameJDS Ninoshima (MSC-662)
Acquired14 February 1959
FateReturned to U.S., 1967
General characteristics
Class and typeYMS-135 subclass of YMS-1-class minesweepers
Displacement270 tons
Length136 ft (41 m)
Beam25 ft (7.6 m)
Draft8 ft (2.4 m)
Propulsion
Speed15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement32
Armament

USS Lark (YMS-376/AMS-23/MSC(O)-23) was a YMS-1-class minesweeper of the YMS-135 subclass built for the United States Navy during World War II.

History

[edit]

Lark, originally YMS-376, was laid down by Greenport Basin and Construction Co., Greenport, Long Island, New York, 5 January 1943; launched 13 March 1943; and commissioned at New York City 10 August 1943.

During the remainder of 1943 and throughout 1944, YMS-376 operated primarily at New York City where she swept the approaches and reaches of New York Harbor. In addition she participated in periodic coastal ASW operations which sent her along the eastern seaboard from New Jersey to Virginia and into Chesapeake Bay. Assigned to duty in the Pacific Ocean early in 1945, YMS-376 departed New York 16 March 1945 and arrived San Diego, California a month later.

She cleared the U.S. West Coast 28 April; and, after touching at Pearl Harbor, Johnston Island, and Eniwetok, reached Guam 24 May. She served in the Marianas until 26 June when, as a unit of MinRon 104, she arrived Okinawa to take part in the important but hazardous task of sweeping Japanese mines from the surrounding waters. She remained at Okinawa and engaged in this vital duty during the rest of the war.

Following the formal Surrender of Japan 2 September, YMS-376 steamed to Japan 8 to 10 September and began sweeping for coastal mines out of Sasebo. During the next 5 months she cleared mines from the coasts of Honshū and Kyūshū and in the Inland Sea. On 16 February 1946 she departed Kobe for the United States. Sailing via the Marshall Islands and Hawaiian Islands, she touched San Francisco, California 1 April and reached San Diego, California the 9th. YMS-376 decommissioned there 5 June 1946 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet. While in reserve at San Diego, she was named Lark and reclassified AMS-23 on 17 February 1947.

After the outbreak of the Korean War in the summer of 1950, Lark recommissioned at Alameda, California, 8 November 1950. Assigned to MinRon 5, she arrived San Diego 26 November and began minesweeping, ASW, and U.S. Naval Reserve training. She changed her homeport to Long Beach, California, 11 January 1951, and during the next year and a half continued type and readiness training along the California coast from Long Beach to San Francisco.

Lark departed Long Beach 6 July 1952 and, after touching at San Francisco, arrived Astoria, Oregon, 29 July.

She served there until 13 November 1953 when she decommissioned and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was reclassified MSC(O)-23 on 7 February 1955. She was transferred to Japan 14 February 1959 under the Military Assistance Program, serving the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force as Ninoshima (MSC-662) until struck in 1967.

YMS-376 received three battle stars for World War II service.

References

[edit]
[edit]