The second ship to be named Gull by the Navy, AMS-16 was launched as YMS-324 by the Al Larson Boat Shop, Terminal Island, California, 14 October 1943; sponsored by Mrs. William Toman; and commissioned 28 February 1944.

After shakedown and minesweeping training, YMS-324 sailed from San Pedro, California, 20 June 1944 via Pearl Harbor and reached Guadalcanal 1 August to prepare for the coming invasion of Peleliu.

She put in at Peleliu and swept her first enemy mine 14 September, the day before the famous 1st Marine Division stormed ashore, and for the next month continued minesweeping operations there and at Ulithi.

YMS-324 aided in clearing the approaches to Okinawa, and remained in those waters until the fall of 1945, returning to San Pedro, California, 20 September 1945, 15 months to the day from the time she left.

Renamed and redesignated Gull (AMS-16) on 18 February 1947, she returned to the western Pacific Ocean in the autumn of 1947, via Pearl Harbor, and conducted peacetime training until putting in at Chinnampo, Korea, 2 November 1950 to support United Nations forces by sweeping mines as part of a group consisting of Thompson (DMS-38), Carmick (DMS-33), Forrest Royal (DD-872), Catamount (LSD-17), Horace A. Bass (APD-124), Pelican (AMS-32), Swallow (AMS-36), LST-Q-007, four Republic of Korea minesweepers, and a helicopter from Rochester (CA-124).