A view of the Robert Jacob Shipyard, City Island, NY, c. July 1944, which shows Harbor Tugs, Vospers, and YMS Auxiliary Motor Minesweepers under construction.
In 1946 the Robert Jacob Shipyard was sold to Consolidated Shipbuilding of Morris Heights. Consolidated then over a 2 year period relocated completely to City Island. Consolidated remained in business until 1957-58, was then sold to Wes Rodstrom who operated the yard from 1959 to about 1963 as Rodstroms Yacht Yard then changed the name back somewhat to Consolidated Yacht Yard. Today Consolidated Yacht Yard is still owned by Rodstrom family.
Photo courtesy of the City Island Nautical Museum and Tom Nye.
Listen, men, I've a tale to tell,
of mighty midgets that sail like - well,
with a word to the wise on larger ships,
to forget those small craft transfer slips,
Men don't live on YMS's -
they just exist under strains and stresses,
tossed around like a bundle of peas,
inside their ship on the calmest seas,
Did you ever eat on a YMS?
It has been done a times I guess,
but the simplest meals can come to grief,
when we hit the wake of a floating leaf.
An order comes to dog the hatches,
for days on end we all wear patches,
what dire calamity caused all this?
A passing school of playful fish.
Then, at "0 two hundred" all's secure,
the anchor is deep and sure,
and even when the seas like granite,
she's taking off for another planet.
The battered life is just one item,
we've many more, just let me cite 'em,
We scrub our whites - they come back black,
our clothes line boys is aft of the stack.
The spacious lockers, I might mention,
are always full and gosh, the tension.
I wish the Navy were more lenient,
four rubber sides would have been convenient.
I'm not through with this little tale,
of little ships and how they sail,
half submarine and aeroplane,
they're a secret weapon gone insane.
Ah yes, my friend, if big ships bore you,
the YMS is waiting for you,
with loving care, from fore to aft,
the Navy designed them and laughed and laughed.
(Courtesy of Robert Noonan - YMS-176, U.S. Navy Minesweeper - World War II - Pacific Area)
Author Anonymous
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