USS YMS-218, a 270-ton auxiliary motor minesweeper built at Tacoma, Washington, was commissioned in June 1943. She served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II, and took part in occupation activities in late 1945 and early 1946. In early 1947, after returning to the U.S. West Coast, she was placed out of commission. YMS-218 was reclassified as a motor minesweeper (AMS) and renamed Curlew (AMS-8) in February of that year.

Curlew recommissioned in June 1949. She was sent to the Western Pacific a year later to support Korean War operations. During most of that conflict, she was active in the combat zone, performing mine clearance and blockade missions. Curlew remained in the Japan-Korea area after the war ended in mid-1953. She was redesignated MSC(O)-8 in February 1955 and transferred to Korea in January 1956. She served in the Republic of Korea Navy as Kum Hwa until discarded in about 1977.