USS Bunting ( AMS - 3 ) USS " Bunting " ( YMS - 170 / AMS - 3 / MHC - 45 ) was a in the United States Navy during World War II . History . " Bunting " was laid down on 1 October 1942 at Benton Harbor , Michigan , by the Dachel - Carter Shipbuilding Corp . ; launched on 29 May 1943 ; and commissioned on 23 July 1943 at Algiers , Louisiana , Lt . J . H . Hawkins , USNR , in command . The motor minesweeper completed fitting out and trials in the 8th Naval District and then got underway for the Norfolk , Virginia . area at the beginning of August . On 11 August , she arrived at Little Creek , Virginia , whence she conducted shakedown and minesweeping training in Chesapeake Bay . Early in September , " YMS - 170 " stood down the east coast to Key West , Florida , where she arrived on 12 September . After a brief period in drydock for repairs at Key West , she put to sea at the end of the month for Puerto Rico . The motor minesweeper arrived in San Juan on 4 October . For the next 22 months , " YMS - 170 " operated among the islands of the southeastern Caribbean performing minesweeping operations , escorting warships and merchantmen , conducting antisubmarine patrols and miscellaneous other minor duties . On 20 August 1945 , the warship left the Caribbean on her way to duty on the Pacific coast . She arrived at San Pedro , California , on 7 September and began service with the 11th Naval District . That assignment , however , proved brief . On 22 October , " YMS - 170 " stood out of San Pedro on her way to the western Pacific . After stops at Pearl Harbor , Eniwetok , and Saipan , the motor minesweeper arrived in the Philippines at Samar on Leyte Island on 17 January 1946 . In February and March , the warship swept mines in Lamon Bay off the southeastern coast of Luzon . In May , " YMS - 170 " headed back to the United States . She reached San Diego on 17 June and , in July , moved to San Pedro under tow . On 30 July 1946 , " YMS - 170 " was placed out of commission at San Pedro . On 18 February 1947 while still in the reserve fleet , " YMS - 170 " was named " Bunting " and was redesignated AMS - 3 . A little more than three years later on 18 July 1950 , the warship was placed in commission , in reserve , and assigned to the 11th Naval District . " Bunting " conducted minesweeping exercises out of San Diego until 18 November at which time she put to sea from San Diego on her way to Hawaii . She spent almost three years operating in the islands with Mine Divisions ( MinDiv ) 51 and 71 . " Bunting " returned to the west coast at Long Beach , California , on 12 September 1953 and spent the rest of the year engaged in exercises , type training , and other drills . On 15 January 1954 , the minesweeper departed Long Beach on her way back to the east coast . After transiting the Panama Canal , she entered port at Charleston , South Carolina , on 15 February . " Bunting " spent the remainder of her active career assigned to the 6th Naval District — based , however , at Key West rather than at Charleston . During that time , she conducted the usual multi - and single - ship mine hunting exercises and drills . In addition , the warship served periodically as a training platform for students at the Fleet Sonar School . Also during that time , she changed designations to MHC - 45 on 7 February 1955 . On 6 May 1960 , " Bunting " was decommissioned at Key West . Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 June 1960 . The minehunter remained inactive at Key West for a little more than two years . Sometime between July and September 1962 , she was sunk as a target .