USS Redstart ( AM - 378 ) USS " Redstart " ( AM - 378 / MSF - 378 ) was an commissioned by the United States Navy for service in World War II . Her task , as a fleet minesweeper , was to clear mines as the fleet proceeded into battle areas . " Redstart " was built in Savannah , Georgia by the Savannah Machine and Foundry Co . , and was laid down on 14 June 1944 , launched on 18 October 1944 , and finally commissioned on 4 April 1945 . Service history . Post - World War II operations . Following a shakedown cruise off the Virginia and Maryland coasts , the ship proceeded through the Panama Canal and berthed at Pipeline Pier in Long Beach , California . For use in her minesweeping operations , the ship carried , on her fantail , towable finned devices called " pigs " because of their size and shape , plus cables with cutters , plus other devices used for removing and destroying mines , such as acoustical hammer and hedgehog weapons . After the towed equipment cut a mine cable , the mine floated to the surface , where the mine would be exploded by fire from an on - board 20 mm or 40 mm gun . " Redstart " steamed to Japan by way of Pearl Harbor for post - war minesweeping operations . The war had ended suddenly for the Japanese , causing a shutdown of military activities , and a large number of defensive mines were still in place in various harbors and bays . On one of her mine - clearing operations in Japanese waters at Nagoya Bay , the ship struck an underwater object and damaged her shaft , requiring her to be repaired in a drydock in Kyūshū the port of Sasebo , Japan . During the remainder of her operations in the Japanese area , where she earned one battle star , she berthed in Sasebo , Japan , or Buckner Bay , Okinawa , between assignments . In April 1946 , she completed her operations in the Japanese theatre , and returned to Long Beach , California , and was then towed and placed in the reserve fleet in San Diego , California . Korean War . " Redstart " was recommissioned on 1 December 1950 . The Korean War was in progress , and she proceeded to the Wonsan operating area where she swept mines and traded artillery fire with shoreside enemy batteries . Beside her minesweeping functions , she served a variety of other purposes , including patrol work , courier duty , escort duty , and establishing a presence offshore at the 38th parallel . On 11 August 1951 , in company with , and on 10 September 1951 in company with , " Redstart " received enemy fire off the Korean coast and sustained minor damage . In February 1952 , after having won five additional battle stars , she sailed from Japan and returned , via Pearl Harbor , to her berth at Pipeline Pier in Long Beach . " Redstart " was assigned to local operations off the California coast , including participating in Operation Philbex 1 , an amphibious operation off the coast at Oceanside , California . On 1 December 1952 , she departed again for the Japanese and Korean theatre and continued her minesweeping activities off the Korean coast , accumulating a total of 81 minesweeping operations , which was a record in the Korean theatre of operations In June 1953 , she departed Japan and returned to Long Beach on 3 July 1953 . Post - Korea operations . On 16 January 1954 , with the war now over , " Redstart " was assigned to another Far East tour . Based out of Sasebo she practiced minesweeping operations off the Korean coast , south of the 38th parallel . She showed her colors in various Far East ports before returning to Long Beach 19 August 1954 . During the remainder of 1954 , " Redstart " operated off the California coast . On 4 January 1955 , she departed Long Beach for cold weather operations off the coast of Alaska , returning to Long Beach on approximately thirty days later . " Redstart " was redesignated MSF - 378 on 1 March 1955 . " Redstart " commenced another tour of the Far East on 7 October 1955 , stopping at Pearl Harbor and the Midway Islands for food and fuel before arriving at her temporary home port of Sasebo , Japan , on 4 November 1955 . While in the Far East , the ship continued minesweeping practice at Koje Do and Tojang Po on the Korean coast , and participated in mock atomic warfare off the coast of Okinawa . During this tour - of - duty she made ports - of - call at Yokosuka , Japan and Hong Kong , China . From 21 January to 23 January 1956 , she participated at Kaoshiung , Formosa , in operations with the Formosan navy with some of her personnel stationed as observers aboard the Formosan warships . On 19 March 1956 , the ship set sail from Sasebo , for Long Beach , California , after stopping at Midway Island and at Pearl Harbor for fuel and supplies . She docked again at Pipeline Pier in Long Beach , California Harbor , in California , on 13 April 1956 . Decommissioning and sale . " Redstart " reported for her deactivation at Astoria , Oregon , on 16 November 1956 and she was deactivated on 15 March 1957 . Transferred to the Taiwan Navy on 25 July 1963 , where she served as the " Wu Sheng " ( PCE - 66 ) , later redesignated PCE - 866 , she was struck from the Navy List on 1 April 1965 . " Wu Sheng " was decommissioned by the Republic of China Navy on 16 February 1998 , and stuck from their naval registry on 26 February 1998 . Awards . " Redstart " earned one battle star for World War II service and five battle stars for Korean War service .