The USS Phantom (AM-273) was an Admirable-class minesweeper constructed for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Laid down on February 1, 1943, by the Gulf Shipbuilding Company in Chickasaw, Alabama, she was launched on July 25, 1943, and officially commissioned on May 17, 1944. The vessel was designed to clear minefields in offshore waters, playing a vital role in naval mine countermeasures during the war. Following her shakedown cruise, the Phantom reported for duty with Commander Service Force Atlantic (ComServLant) on July 8, 1944. Her initial operations involved minesweeping and escort duties along the U.S. East Coast and near Bermuda for the remainder of 1944. In January 1945, she operated off McNabs Island, Nova Scotia, escorting USS Pontiac (AF-20) and subsequently standing by as the latter was beached in a sinking condition. Throughout early 1945, Phantom continued her operations along the eastern seaboard, from Boston to Jacksonville. In April 1945, she transited the Panama Canal and arrived at Pearl Harbor in May. Her service took her to Okinawa by June 26, where she conducted minesweeping operations around the strategically significant island for the remainder of the war. Afterward, she moved to Japan in September for further minesweeping efforts and later to waters off the China coast in December. She returned to the United States in February 1946, arriving at San Diego, California, and later proceeded to Subic Bay in September for inactivation preparations. Decommissioned on October 10, 1946, Phantom was placed in reserve until her transfer to the Chinese Nationalist Navy on June 15, 1948, where she served as Yung Ming. She was struck from the U.S. Navy List in July 1948 and was eventually decommissioned and struck from the Chinese Navy list in October 1949. Her hulk was sold for scrap in July 1951. During her service, USS Phantom earned three battle stars for her contributions during World War II, marking her as a notable vessel in maritime mine clearance operations of her time.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.