Yard Minesweepers (YMS and BYMS)

In all, 561 wooden-hulled minesweepers were built in at least 35 boatyards.  All were of essentially the same design - 136 feet long, with a speed of 13 knots - but the Mk. I YMS had two stacks, the Mk. II had one stack and the Mk. III had none.

150 of these boats were transferred directly from the boatbuilder to the Royal Navy.  The first 80 of these had their own pennant numbers (BYMS 1 through 80, redesignated BYMS 2001 through 2080 by the British).  The other 70 were transferred from the US Navy and given British pennant numbers 2000 greater than the U.S. number (e.g., YMS 162 became BYMS 2162).  Another 30 boats were transferred to the Free French Navy in 1944 and 45 to the Soviet Union in 1945.  After the war, many more were transferred or sold to allied navies.  There is a shortage of information about what happened to these great boats, which played a major part in the war effort.  It is easy to assume that most were scrapped after they were struck, but many are known to have had second and third careers, in a wide variety of roles.  Thanks to René Westerhuis for filling almost all the gaps.  If any one can fill any of the few remaining ones, please e-mail me at tim@coltoncompany.com.

Type # Shipbuilder Class Delivery Disposition
BYMS 1 American Car & Foundry Mk. I 30-May-42 Returned to US 1946, disposition unknown
BYMS 2 American Car & Foundry Mk. I 22-Jun-42 Struck 1947; To Greek Customs ('contraband chaser')
BYMS 3 American Car & Foundry Mk. I 14-Jul-42 Returned to US 1946; disposition unknown
BYMS 4 American Car & Foundry Mk. I 1-Aug-42 Struck 1947; To Greek Customs ('contraband chaser')
BYMS 5 Wheeler Shipbuilding Mk. I 14-Sep-42 To South Korea 1948 as Kil Chu, scrapped 1959
BYMS 6 Wheeler Shipbuilding Mk. I 28-Sep-42 To South Korea 1948 as Kong City, sunk 1950
BYMS 7 Wheeler Shipbuilding Mk. I 8-Oct-42 Returned to US 1946; disposition unknown
BYMS 8 Wheeler Shipbuilding Mk. I 19-Oct-42 To South Korea 1948 as Yong Kung, scrapped 1955
BYMS 9 Associated Shipbuilders Mk. I 1-Sep-42 To Italy 1947 as Anemone, struck 1966 
BYMS 10 Associated Shipbuilders Mk. I 31-Jul-42 Returned to US 1946; disposition unknown
BYMS 11 Associated Shipbuilders Mk. I 21-Sep-42 Returned to US 1947; disposition unknown
BYMS 12 Associated Shipbuilders Mk. I 6-Oct-42 To Italy 1947 as Biancospino, struck 1966 
BYMS 13 Associated Shipbuilders Mk. I 30-Oct-42 To Egypt 1949 as Gaza, wrecked 1950
BYMS 14 Associated Shipbuilders Mk. I 24-Nov-42 To Italy 1947 as Geranio, struck 1966 
BYMS 15 Dachel-Carter Shipbuilding Mk. I 21-Jul-42 Returned to US 1946; disposition unknown
BYMS 16 Dachel-Carter Shipbuilding Mk. I 9-Jun-42 Struck 1947; To Greek Customs ('contraband chaser')
BYMS 17 Bellingham Marine Mk. I 30-May-42 To China 1948, struck 1976
BYMS 18 Bellingham Marine Mk. I 16-Jul-42 To South Korea, YMS-517; scrapped 
BYMS 19 Bellingham Marine Mk. I 14-Aug-42 Mined off Cotrone and lost 1943
BYMS 20 Bellingham Marineks Mk. I 29-Aug-42 Returned to US 1947; disposition unknown
BYMS 21 Seattle Shipbuilding Mk. I 3-Aug-42 Struck 1947; To Greek Customs ('contraband chaser')
BYMS 22 Seattle Shipbuilding Mk. I 5-Sep-42 Mined off Frejus and lost 1944 
BYMS 23 Seattle Shipbuilding Mk. I 27-Oct-42 To Italy 1947 as Mughetto, struck 1966
BYMS 24 Seattle Shipbuilding Mk. I 9-Nov-42 To Italy 1947 as Narcisco, struck 1966 
BYMS 25 Ballard Marine Railway Mk. I 14-Jul-42 Returned to US 1946; disposition unknown
BYMS 26 Ballard Marine Railway Mk. I 22-Aug-42 Sold private 1946, bought by Jacques Cousteau and converted to the research ship Calypso: laid up in La Rochelle.
BYMS 27 Ballard Marine Railway Mk. I 21-Sep-42 To Italy 1947 as Oleandro, struck 1966
BYMS 28 Ballard Marine Railway Mk. I 30-Oct-42 To Egypt 1949 as Arish, discarded 1970
BYMS 29 Barbour Boat Works Mk. I 8-Jun-42 Struck 1948; To Greek Customs ('contraband chaser')
BYMS 30 Barbour Boat Works Mk. I 29-Jul-42 Mined off Le Havre and lost 1944
BYMS 31 American Car & Foundry Mk. II 13-Mar-43 1947 Sold Private; MV Nanridi - Malta; 1950 MV Monte Carmelo - Gibraltar; Confiscated by Italian Authorities after tabacco smuggle.
BYMS 32 American Car & Foundry Mk. II 10-Apr-43 To Finland 1948 as Purunpaa,  1959 MV Ebenezer
BYMS 33 American Car & Foundry Mk. II 4-Jun-43 To Greece 1946 as Kalymnos, struck 1973 
BYMS 34 American Car & Foundry Mk. II 29-Jun-43 Struck 1947; To Greek Customs ('contraband chaser')
BYMS 35 American Car & Foundry Mk. II 14-Aug-43 To Egypt 1949 as Malek Fouad, discarded 1970
BYMS 36 American Car & Foundry Mk. II 20-Sep-43 Returned to US 1946; disposition unknown
BYMS 37 Barbour Boat Works Mk. II 15-Mar-43 To Italy as Orchidea 1947, struck 1966
BYMS 38 Barbour Boat Works Mk. II 30-Apr-43 To the Netherlands 1946 as Marsdiep (A 906), struck 1956; MV Siriri - Brazil
BYMS 39 Barbour Boat Works Mk. II 16-Jun-43 Returned to US 1948; disposition unknown
BYMS 40 Barbour Boat Works Mk. II 15-Aug-43 Struck 1947; To Greek Customs ('contraband chaser')
BYMS 41 Barbour Boat Works Mk. II 9-Oct-43 To Egypt 1949 as Darfur, to Algeria 1962 as Sidi Fradj, discarded 1971
BYMS 42 Barbour Boat Works Mk. II 13-Nov-43 To Italy as Gladiolo 1947, struck 1966
BYMS 43 Gibbs Gas Engine Mk. II