VSS James M. Gilliss(AGS 13) 



Originally the motor minesweeper YMS 262 built in 1943 by the 

 South Coast Company of Newport Beach, California. In 1945 

 she was converted to a survey ship at California Shipbuilding 

 Corporation, Wilmington, California and redesignated the James 

 M. Gilliss (AGS 13). She conducted surveys at Okinawa and then 

 at Nagoya, Japan in support of occupation operations. In 1946 

 she operated between Bikini and Eniwetok conducting 

 hydrographic and oceanographic surveys to support Operation 

 "Crossroads", the atomic bomb tests. Later that same year she 



was classified as a coastal survey ship, AGSC 13. and assigned 

 coastal survey operations from the North Atlantic to the 

 Caribbean. In 1950 she ended her survey career and was 

 converted to a minehunter, AMCU U. Inactivated in 1958, she 

 was sold in 1960. The Gilliss is shown off the coast of Labrador 

 in 1949. On her fantail is the helicopter from the USS Tanner 

 (AGS 15) being taken to (Joose Bay for repairs. 



Length: 136' Displacement: 265 tons 



USS Simon Newcomb (AGS 14) 



Originally the motor minesweeper YMS 263 built in 1943 by the 

 South Coast Company, Newport Beach, California. Active in the 

 South Pacific, she was assigned after the war to survey 

 operations along the Atlantic Coast. In 1949 she was blown 



aground on Mother Burns Cove, Labrador. Shown here personnel 

 are unloading all removable gear and ballast prior to salvage 

 attempt. Although successfully salvaged by the USS Hoist (ARS 

 40), the Newcomb was disposed of later that year. 



Length: 136' Displacement: 265 tons 



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