USS Lapwing (AMS-48)
USS Lapwing (AMS-48), originally YMS-268, was a YMS-1 class minesweeper built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. It was laid down December 1, 1942, by Kruse & Banks Shipbuilding Co. in North Bend, Oregon; launched April 15, 1943; and commissioned July 31, 1943.
After a West Coast shakedown, YMS-268 trained minesweeper crews from San Pedro, California, helping improve mine-clearing operations worldwide. In May 1945 it arrived at Pearl Harbor and then operated with the 7th Fleet from Guam, the Philippines, and Okinawa, sweeping mines during the final stages of the war. After Japan’s surrender, it helped remove mines in Tokyo Bay and around Honshu. It left Kobe on March 9, 1946, and reached San Francisco on April 24. A month later it went to Chicago via the St. Lawrence River to join the 9th Naval District Reserve Training program.
YMS-268 was decommissioned and placed in service November 1, 1946. It was renamed Lapwing and reclassified AMS-48 on September 1, 1947, continuing Reserve Training operations. Lapwing was recommissioned February 12, 1951, at Orange, Texas, and then operated along the U.S. East Coast, developing new mine warfare techniques until 1957. It was reclassified MSC(O)-48 on February 7, 1955. The ship decommissioned again November 15, 1957, and joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. It was struck from the Naval Vessel Register November 1, 1959.
The vessel was sold to Standard Products Co. of Kilmarnock, Virginia, and converted to a menhaden fishing boat named Weems. In 1987 it was sold to Yale Iverson, renamed Endeavor, and used as a research/cargo vessel. It sank in the summer of 1990 off the Dominican Republic.
Lapwing earned one battle star for World War II service.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 07:57 (CET).