East Coast operations
Spoonbill was among the first in a group of non-magnetic minesweepers of wooden construction capable of sweeping any conventional type mine constructed at the time. On 4 July 1955, she was assigned to United States Mine Force, Atlantic Fleet, Charleston, South Carolina. After shakedown training off Key West, Florida, from 26 July to 24 August, and post-shakedown availability at Rawles Brothers' Shipyard, Jacksonville, Florida, Spoonbill returned to Charleston.
Schoolship assignment
She steamed from Charleston on 3 February 1956, for Yorktown, Virginia, where she was assigned duty with the Naval Mine Warfare School, embarking students for daily cruises to participate in minesweeping operations and training with fleet units.
The ship sailed for Argentia, Newfoundland, on 8 January 1957, and participated in fleet exercises from 15 January to 7 February, when she returned to Charleston. Spoonbill operated from there until 4 February 1958, when she got underway for the US West Coast. The minesweeper transited the Panama Canal on 11 February, and arrived at San Diego, California, on 28 February. She moved up the coast to Treasure Island, California, and conducted operations from there until 2 February 1959.
USS Thrush (MSC-204) was a Bluebird-class minesweeper in the service of the United States Navy from 1955 to 1975.
USS Parrot (AMS/MSC-197) was a Bluebird-class minesweeper in the United States Navy for clearing coastal minefields.
USS Lapwing was a YMS-1-class minesweeper of the YMS-135 subclass built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was named after the lapwing.
The fourth USS Falcon (AMS-190/MSC-190) was a Bluebird-class minesweeper in the United States Navy.
USS Turkey (AMS-56/YMS-444) was a YMS-135 subclass of YMS-1-class minesweepers built for the United States Navy during World War II.
The second USS Swan was a US Navy YMS-1-class minesweeper in commission from 1944 to 1946, and again from 1950 to 1955. She was laid down on 12 August 1943 by the Gibbs Gas Engine Co., at Jacksonville, Florida, as Patrol Craft, Sweeper, PCS-1438; and was redesignated Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper YMS-470, on 27 September 1943. Launched on 5 April 1944; the ship was completed and commissioned on 14 October 1944.
USS Redwing (AMS/MSC-200) was a Bluebird-class minesweeper in the United States Navy.
USS Whippoorwill (AMS/MSC-207) was a Bluebird-class minesweeper acquired by the US Navy for clearing coastal minefields.
USS Grackle was a YMS-1-class minesweeper of the YMS-135 subclass built for the United States Navy during World War II.
USS Bluebird (AMS/MSC-121) was a Bluebird-class minesweeper acquired by the US Navy for clearing minefields in coastal waterways.
USS Frigate Bird (AMS/MSC-191) was a Bluebird-class minesweeper acquired by the US Navy for clearing coastal minefields.
USS Hummingbird (AMS-192) was a Bluebird-class minesweeper acquired by the US Navy for clearing coastal minefields.
USS Jacana (AMS/MSC-193) was a Bluebird-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for clearing coastal minefields.
USS Kingbird (AMS-194) was a Bluebird-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for clearing coastal minefields.
USS Limpkin (AMS/MSC-195) was a Bluebird-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for clearing coastal minefields.
USS Meadowlark (AMS/MSC-196) was a Bluebird-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for clearing coastal minefields.
USS Shrike (AMS/MSC-201) was a Bluebird-class minesweeper acquired by the US Navy for clearing coastal minefields.
USS Nightingale was a YMS-1-class minesweeper of the YMS-135 subclass acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.
USS Verdin was a YMS-1-class minesweeper of the US Navy that served during World War II. Laid down as PCS-1439 on 5 September 1943 at Jacksonville, Florida, by the Gibbs Gas Engine Co.; redesignated YMS-471 on 27 September 1943; launched on 23 May 1944; and commissioned on 27 October 1944.
USS Thrasher (AMS/MSC-203) was a Bluebird-class minesweeper acquired by the US Navy for clearing coastal minefields.
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