Sanderling III YMS-446

Sanderling III

(YMS-446: dp. 320; 1. 136'; b. 24'6", dr. 8'; s. 13 k.cpl. 38; a. 1 3", 2 20mm., 2 act., 2 dcp.; cl. YMs-185

YMS-44s was laid down on 22 May 1943 by Robert Jacob, Inc., City Island, N.Y., launched on Q6 February 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Joseph K. Harvey; and commissioned on 9 June 1944, Lt. (jg.) Robert MacRoss, USNR, in command.

Initially assigned to the 3d Naval District, YMS-446 operated in the Staten Island area until 23 July 1945 when she got underway for California. She arrived at Newport Beach on 22 August; and, in September, was routed farther west. From 25 September to 11 October she conducted exercises out of Pearl Harbor, then continued on across the Pacific. On 2 November, she arrived at Fukuoka; and, for the remainder of the year, cleared shipping lanes to that northern Kyushu manufacturing port. During January and February 1946, she conducted similar minesweeping operations Off the northern coast of the Inland Sea to ensure safe passage to and from Kure. She completed her postwar sweeping duties in mid-February and, on the 28th, departed Japan.

YMS-446 then steamed east. After stops in the Marianas, the Marshalls, and the Hawaiian Islands, she arrived at San Pedro on 14 April; and, in May, put into Charleston, S.C. During July and August, she underwent overhaul, then because of personnel shortages, she remained immobilized into December.

Early in 1947, the YMS departed Charleston for Key West but returned in February. On the 17th, she was named Sanderling and reclassified AMS-35. On the 18th, she got underway for fleet maneuvers off Puerto Rico; but, later in the day, collided with a Norwegian merchant ship and was towed to Norfolk for repairs. In May, she returned to Charleston; and, two months later, she moved south to conduct operations off Florida for the Mine Countermeasure Station, Panama City. In November, she returned to South Carolina for indefinite berthing at the Minecraft Base at Charleston.

In May 1948, Sanderling resumed operations along the east and gulf coasts, from Newfoundland to the Mississippi and in the Caribbean. Based at Norfolk and then at Charleston she operated primarily from Hampton Roads south for the next nine years; participating in type and fleet exercises and providing services for the Operational Development Force. During that period, she was redesignated twice: to AMCU-49 effective 1 February 1956; and to MHC-59, effective 7 February 1955. In mid-September 1957, she arrived at Green Cove Springs, Fla., and joined the Reserve Fleet. Two months later, on 14 November, she was decommissioned. Sanderling remained berthed at Green Cove Springs until struck from the Navy list on 1 November 1959.

YMS-446 earned one battle star for her post-World War II minesweeping operations.