YMPs (1952 - 1954 ): US Navy

Yard Craft; Motorized; Mine Planter

Last Update: 5129 These mine laying { called mine planters when they were used by the Army } ships of the Navy had their home port at a "Navy Harbor Defense Unit" based at Little Creek, Va; with a mission to protect the Chesapeake Bay, Hampton Roads and the Naval Bases around Norfolk. The Korean Police Action and the Cold War were going full blast at this time, but our mines were not armed to destroy ships. They were for detection only, and would send an alarm to a Command Post at Ft Story, Va. These were magnatic mines which would trip an electronic sensor in the mine whenever a ship passed near { over } them. For a short period of time the Navy experimented with acoustic influenced mines and exploded a charge, now and then, for test purposes. Any comments, corrections and additions are welcome! Please contact Martin Dwyer; Martyk9 @ Webtv.net NOTE: To send me an e-mail, please re-type the above E-address deleting the two spaces. Thanks !

YMP-1 CREW: 1: Officer-in-Charge: ???? ~ 1952.... Lt ??????? 1952 ~ 1953 .... Lt JG William Towles 1953 ~ 1954 .... Lt JG Louis Wuellner 1954 ~ 1955 .... Lt George F.'Tim' Terry III 1955 ~ 1956 .... ??????? 1956 ~ 1957 .... Lieutenant Gene Sobke 1957 ~ 1960 .... Lieutenant Donald Hayes 1: Chief Warrant Officer ~ 1952 .... CWO Buell ~ 1955 .... CWO Moore 22 Enlisted Persnnel 1954 Bossen Mate .... Lancaster .... Newman Special Rates: Quartermaster: Cook: .............. "Pop"Perry Electrican: ....... Corpman:......... Seaman: Fireman: 1955 Bossen Mate: ..... Moore ..... Harry Driver ..... Saulters ..... Williams; Engineering ..... Leslie Smith; Engineering Special Rates: Quartermaster: .. Rigby Cook: ............... Jacobs Electrican ......... Stapleton Corpsman: ........ Holiday Seaman: .... Bert Putterman .... Fredricks .... Billedeaci .... Carl Frye .... Eugene Korzenoski .... Morris .... James Robinson .... Donald Watkins Fireman: (Engineering) .... Coleburn .... Edgar Cook .... Lakes .... John Wild The YMP-1 was built for the Army as the Junior Mine Planter JMP-70 in 1943. Built at Dorchester, NJ, by the Stowman Shipyard. ( It is reported that the vessel had a commemerative plaque mounted in honor of "Major" or "Capt" so & so". )

YMP-1, C1952
@RHowlett

YMP-1, c1952
@RHowlett

YMP-2 Officer-in-Charge: .... ~ 1952 ...... Lieutenant PETERSON 18 man crew Engineering Department: 1952

Foreground - YMP-2; Background - YMP-1 c1950s
@Popular (Mechanics, Electronics or Science ?)

The YMP-2 was built for the Army Mine Planter Service as the Sgt TRUMAN O. OLSON, Constructed for the Army, the Vessel was transfered to the Navy before commisioning. I have been informed that the ship had a steel hull and a length of 127 feet. As the YMP-2, the ship was the only sea-going US Navy Ship that did not have propellers, rudder or anchor.

I have received conflicting information on the origin of the YMP-2. Latest comment was that the ship was turned over by the German Government as part of the reperation for WW2. Initial data was only the propulsion system came from Germany. Will have to do an extensive study to determine the correctness of either statement.

YMP-3 YMP-3 was built through the Navy Channels for Turkey, No other info is available at this time. {NOTE: In April 1958, the LSD-29, USS PLYMOUTH ROCK, transported the YNP-3 {600 ton Mine Planter} to Turkey. Was there a typo error ? I know of no Navy ship classification as YNP}