For most of the 1960s, the Navy's 7th Fleet operated nine coastal minesweepers in two groups homeported in Sasebo, Japan. During his command of Albatross, my former C.O., Lt. Edward F. Cole, Jr., led Mine Division 31. Peacock and Phoebe were Falcon Class minesweepers, running two 16-cylinder Packard diesels engines, originally designated as AMSs (Auxilliary Minesweeper) and later re-designated by the Navy as MSCs (Minesweeper Coastal). Vireo, Warbler, Whippoorwill, Widgeon and Woodpecker were slightly larger Redwing Class minesweepers of similar design and upgraded with more powerful General Motors diesels. These five ships were also originally designated as AMSs and later redesignated as MSCs. Gannet was the second of only three of the more modern Albatross Class MSCs equipped with four 8-cylinder inline Harnischfeger diesel engines (two on each shaft designed for increased reliability and versatility). Albatross Class ships were put into service in 1961 -- some five years after the Falcon and Redwing designs.