USS Lorikeet ( AMS - 49 ) USS " Lorikeet " ( AMS - 49 / YMS - 271 ) was a acquired by the U . S . Navy for the task of removing mines from water that had been placed there to prevent ships from passing . Operational history . " Lorikeet " ( AMS 49 ) was laid down as " YMS 271 " by Bellingham Marine Railway & Boatbuilding Co . , Bellingham , Washington , 3 July 1942 ; launched 17 October ; and commissioned 21 April 1943 , Lt . Charles E . Scherneck in command from 17 May . Upon completion of shakedown , " YMS 271 " departed Seattle , Washington , 21 August 1943 to undergo intensive antisubmarine warfare training out of San Diego , California . Two months later she was underway for the Solomon Islands via Samoa and New Caledonia . Arriving 5 November , " YMS 271 " operated as a screening and escort vessel in the Solomons until 21 July 1944 . The tide of war having surged northward , she steamed next to Fiji Islands to sweep American mines from the area . Slightly damaged 8 October while taking a wind - driven , rudderless New Zealand corvette under tow , she repaired at Auckland , New Zealand , then resumed sweeping duties first around Noumea , New Caledonia , and later Espiritu Santo , New Hebrides . Withdrawn for the impending Okinawa Gunto Invasion , " YMS 271 " participated in practice exercises near Tulagi , Solomon Islands , 17 February through 15 March 1945 . On the latter date , she sailed as a convoy escort bound for the Ryukyus . While the main invasion force stormed ashore on the western side of Okinawa , this wooden hulled vessel helped prepare the eastern bays to receive additional form of ships and men from 2 April to 12 May . Though 15 percent of all naval casualties during this “ Operation Iceberg ” were suffered by minecraft , " YMS 271 " emerged unscratched . Following a brief overhaul at Saipan she returned to resume sweeping of the Kerama Retto Passage before undertaking preinvasion sweeps around Kume Shima . On 4 July operations took her into the East China Sea but immediately following surrender ceremonies they shifted to the passage off Wakayama , Japan . Rotated home 25 February 1946 , she proceeded to Boston , Massachusetts , and decommissioned 19 July 1946 . She began a new career as a U . S . Naval Reserve training ship 1 September 1947 , when she was placed in service and simultaneously reclassified as " AMS 49 " and named " Lorikeet " . She served the reserve training program in the Quincy Hingham , Massachusetts , area until she recommissioned 17 March 1950 , Lt . ( j . g . ) William J . O ’ Brien in command . " Lorikeet " sailed 29 May from Boston for assignment with MinRon 4 based at Charleston , South Carolina . After a shakedown cruise to Guantanamo , Cuba , in July , she engaged in coastal exercises and cruises between Norfolk , Virginia , and Key West , Florida . Reclassified " MSC ( O ) 49 " on 7 February 1955 , she participated in the U . S . Atlantic Fleet ’ s largest postwar mine warfare exercises to date , Operation LANTMINEX in the spring of 1955 . In late 1956 she shifted her home port to Panama City , Florida . She departed Panama City for Charleston arriving in late August 1957 . She then sailed for New York 3 September where she decommissioned 18 September . Placed in service 30 October 1959 , she once again became a Naval Reserve training ship , this time for the 3d Naval District . In January 1961 she provided the basis of training for two reserve crews attached to the Naval Reserve Training Center ( NRTC ) Jersey City , New Jersey . From 1 July 1964 to 3 September 1968 , " Lorikeet " served as flagship for Commander . Naval Reserve Mine Division 31 and was based at Perth Amboy , New Jersey . " Lorikeet " was relieved as flagship and Naval Reserve training ship on 3 September by . Placed out of service shortly after , she was struck 1 October from the U . S . Naval Vessel Register and was to be scrapped . Awards and honors . " Lorikeet " received three battle stars for World War II service .