"Capture of BYMS-72," a chapter from David's forthcoming book, Wooden Ships and Iron Men: The U.S. Navy's Coastal and Motor Minesweepers, 1941-–1953, is now available at Naval History.net, hosted by Gordon Smith.
   

From 1953 to 1994, sixty-five U.S. Navy ocean minesweepers (MSOs) swept mines; searched the seafloor for downed aircraft, sunken ships, and lost munitions; “showed the flag” throughout the world, even sailing up the Congo and Mekong Rivers, calling at dozens of the world's seaports; and carried out patrols and special tasks off strife-torn or hostile countries. Some participated in the 1962 nuclear test program in the Pacific and in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs. Others, as part of a U.S. armada of military and civilian research ships at Palomares, located a nuclear bomb lost on the seafloor off Spain as a result of a midair collision between two U.S. Air Force aircraft. Iron men in wooden ships were with the Fleet in hotspots around the world, including Lebanon and the Quemoy-Matsu islands of Taiwan in 1958; the Dominican Republic in 1961 and 1965; and the Cuban Missile Crisis and Haiti in 1962.

During the Vietnam War, minesweepers participated in Operation MARKET TIME to prevent the infiltration of North Vietnamese soldiers and munitions into South Vietnam. Leader received the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in Operation SEA LORDS; Endurance engaged in close gun action with and helped destroy an enemy armed trawler in a sea battle; and MSOs cleared mines in Haiphong Harbor,

which aided in the negotiations in progress for the return of U.S. prisoners of war. During the twilight of their service in the late 1980s and early 1990s, aging sweeps cleared Iranian- and Iraqi-laid mines in the Persian Gulf.

Cover painting by Richard DeRossett (view entire painting)


Praise for Wooden Ships and Iron Men

Wooden Ships and Iron Men is a fitting tribute to the ocean minesweepers and Sailors who crewed them during a critical time in the U.S. Navy’s modern history. While enduring all the hardships common to life at sea in small vessels, these men contributed significantly to the Navy’s successful operations, from 1953 to 1994, in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, off the coast of Vietnam, and in the volatile Persian Gulf. This work is a must read.
We are truly impressed with the depth of your research on an important, but often overlooked, aspect of the U.S. Navy's Cold War and post–Cold War operations. I plan to spread the word on this important work to my colleagues here at the Center, who I'm sure will find it a useful resource in their own work. As Project Director of our forthcoming Cold War Gallery [for the National Museum of the United States Navy], I can say that it will be at my elbow as I work to develop the exhibition.
Edward J. Marolda
Senior Historian
Naval Historical Center
Washington, D.C.
Cdr. Bruhn’s history of the Ocean Minesweeper will delight all those who served in and worked with these fine wooden ships. It will also provide much interesting detail on their employment to anyone concerned with the U.S. Navy’s mine countermeasures efforts between the Korean War and DESERT STORM. Bruhn reviews many of the ongoing issues and competing priorities that have crippled this important warfare area. Wooden Ships and Iron Men is a real walk down memory lane for a former MSO Commanding Officer and Mine Group Commander. Worth the read!
Captain David J. Grieve, USN (Ret.)
Commander U.S. Mine Countermeasures Force 1990–1991
Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM (“Persian Gulf War”)
Reading Dave Bruhn’s important book on mine warfare, I was delighted to return to sea on an MSO without the usual seasickness caused by its endless corkscrewing and the nausea induced by stack gas blowing into the bridge on a following wind. I could actually walk a deck without leaving heel prints three feet up a bulkhead! Thank you, David, for returning me to the days of my youth and callow innocence.
Mike Goss, Former Lt., USN

The first American book on shipboard engineering in nearly twenty years, this useful reference offers a guiding philosophy to new, experienced, and prospective engineers. Focusing on the art of the engineer rather than the doctrine and regulations that govern the technical side of the billet, it helps engineers become more effective at their jobs. Assuming that readers already possess basic knowledge of engineering principles and practices, the author sets forth a coherent blueprint to achieve and maintain the level of readiness necessary to support sustained operations at sea.

Ready to Answer All Bells guides the reader through all of the challenges an engineer officer will encounter, from taking over the department, through an overhaul, to the various evolutions and assessment processes that confirm readiness to deploy to faraway regions of the world. This book strikes a balance between current fleet conventions and engineering practices that have withstood the test of time. Navy, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine engineering officers and Navy surface and submarine warfare officers will all benefit from heeding its advice, which until now could only be learned through experience.