A net layer's primary function was to lay and maintain steel anti-submarine nets or anti torpedo nets. Nets could be laid around an individual ship at anchor, or harbor entrances or dry docks, or other anchorages. Net laying was potentially dangerous work, and net laying seamen were experts at dealing with blocks, tackles, knots and splicing. As World War II progressed, net layers were pressed into a variety of additional roles including salvage, troop and cargo transport, buoy maintenance, and service as tugboats.[1]
War Plan Orange, the pre-WW2 US plan for war with Japan, anticipated that Pearl Harbor would be too small for the US Navy fleet that would be amassed in Hawaii. Orange anticipated the construction of a large anchorage in Lahaina Roads between the islands of Maui, Lānaʻi, and Molokaʻi. Construction would consist of massive nets and minefields to protect the anchored ships.[2]
Changing requirementsedit
Ultimately four large netlayers would be laid down just before and after the attack on Pearl Harbor: USS Monitor (AN-1), USS Montauk (AN-2), USS Osage (AN-3), and USS Saugus (AN-4).[A 1] It turned out that these ships were not needed. First, dredging significantly enlarged the anchorages in Pearl Harbor. Second, the mobility of aircraft carrier warfare made the large Lahaina Roads anchorage concept obsolete, though smaller nets would still be needed for the entrance channels at advanced bases such as the Naval Base Majuro and Naval Base Ulithi. Third, new technology resulted in lightweight nets that could be handled by smaller vessels. The four large netlayers would be converted to carry and launch amphibious vehicles under the hull classification landing ship, vehicle (LSV).[3]
Small net layers initially received the hull classification symbol yard net tenders (YN) but 77 were later reclassified as auxiliary net layer ships (AN). These vessels had two prominent steel "horns" on the bow, used in laying nets. Another 24 vessels which held the (YN) symbol were impressed tugs rather than specially built craft, and so these were redesignated as net tender tugs (YNT).
The 77 small auxiliary net layers were built in three classes. The first 32, the Aloe-class, were all launched in 1940 (before the attack on Pearl Harbor) and were built of steel. Due to the chronic shortage of steel during the war, the next 40, the Ailanthus-class, were built of wood. The last 15, the Cohoes-class, laid down in 1944 and 1945, were again constructed of steel.[4]
These vessels served in all theatres of war but particularly in the Pacific. Many of the ships were decommissioned after the war, but some continued in service for several more decades. Net layers were eventually made redundant by advances in underwater detection technology.[5]
There were also at least 43 craft that were classed as net gate craft (YNG); many were simply powered barges.[2]
To transport nets and to otherwise support the net layers, by 1943 specially built cargo ships, designated net cargo ships (AKN), were built. The first of this class was the USS Indus (AKN-1). The Indus worked in Naval Base Philippines.[6][7] Finally in 1946, the USS Montauk would be converted back from an LSV to net cargo duties as the USS Galilea (AKN-6).
The boom defence net at Scapa Flow being towed into position by two Royal Navy boom defence vessels in 1943.
At Scapa Flow, a Royal Navy net laying vessel prepares to lay an anti-submarine net, which is 900 feet (275 metres) long, weighs over 40 Imperial tons (41 tonnes) and could be laid in 4 minutes.
HMS Rogate, a Royal Navy "gate vessel" designed to open and close the boom and nets at Portsmouth Harbour during World War II.
^Friedman, Norman (2002). U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN1-55750-250-1.
^Jurens, W. (2016). "Life in the Slow Lane: Some Thoughts on Minelayer and Netlayer Evolution". Warship International. LIII (1): 59–68. ISSN 0043-0374.
^These ships were of a common design with three fleet minelayers: USS Terror (CM-5), USS Catskill (CM-6), and USS Ozark (CM-7) which are listed here
External linksedit
Photos of HMNZS Endeavour; Antarctic support ship, ex-US netlayer
January 01, 1970
laying, ship, laying, ship, also, known, layer, tender, gate, ship, boom, defence, vessel, type, naval, auxiliary, ship, laying, ship, that, worked, pearl, harbor, 1940s, layer, primary, function, maintain, steel, anti, submarine, nets, anti, torpedo, nets, ne. A net laying ship also known as a net layer net tender gate ship or boom defence vessel was a type of naval auxiliary ship USS Ash YN 2 AN 7 a net laying ship that worked at Pearl Harbor in the 1940s A net layer s primary function was to lay and maintain steel anti submarine nets or anti torpedo nets Nets could be laid around an individual ship at anchor or harbor entrances or dry docks or other anchorages Net laying was potentially dangerous work and net laying seamen were experts at dealing with blocks tackles knots and splicing As World War II progressed net layers were pressed into a variety of additional roles including salvage troop and cargo transport buoy maintenance and service as tugboats 1 Contents 1 US Navy 1 1 1930s 1 1 1 Changing requirements 1 2 1940s 2 British and Commonwealth 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Citations 5 2 Footnotes 6 External linksUS Navy edit1930s edit War Plan Orange the pre WW2 US plan for war with Japan anticipated that Pearl Harbor would be too small for the US Navy fleet that would be amassed in Hawaii Orange anticipated the construction of a large anchorage in Lahaina Roads between the islands of Maui Lanaʻi and Molokaʻi Construction would consist of massive nets and minefields to protect the anchored ships 2 Changing requirements edit Ultimately four large netlayers would be laid down just before and after the attack on Pearl Harbor USS Monitor AN 1 USS Montauk AN 2 USS Osage AN 3 and USS Saugus AN 4 A 1 It turned out that these ships were not needed First dredging significantly enlarged the anchorages in Pearl Harbor Second the mobility of aircraft carrier warfare made the large Lahaina Roads anchorage concept obsolete though smaller nets would still be needed for the entrance channels at advanced bases such as the Naval Base Majuro and Naval Base Ulithi Third new technology resulted in lightweight nets that could be handled by smaller vessels The four large netlayers would be converted to carry and launch amphibious vehicles under the hull classification landing ship vehicle LSV 3 1940s edit General characteristics of US Navy Aloe class net laying ship Displacement 560 tons 700 tons laden Length 151 ft 8 in Beam 30 ft 6 in Draft 10 ft 6 in Speed 14 knots Propulsion Diesel single screw Complement 40 Armament 1 3 50 caliber dual purpose gun 3 20 mm mounts Small net layers initially received the hull classification symbol yard net tenders YN but 77 were later reclassified as auxiliary net layer ships AN These vessels had two prominent steel horns on the bow used in laying nets Another 24 vessels which held the YN symbol were impressed tugs rather than specially built craft and so these were redesignated as net tender tugs YNT The 77 small auxiliary net layers were built in three classes The first 32 the Aloe class were all launched in 1940 before the attack on Pearl Harbor and were built of steel Due to the chronic shortage of steel during the war the next 40 the Ailanthus class were built of wood The last 15 the Cohoes class laid down in 1944 and 1945 were again constructed of steel 4 These vessels served in all theatres of war but particularly in the Pacific Many of the ships were decommissioned after the war but some continued in service for several more decades Net layers were eventually made redundant by advances in underwater detection technology 5 There were also at least 43 craft that were classed as net gate craft YNG many were simply powered barges 2 To transport nets and to otherwise support the net layers by 1943 specially built cargo ships designated net cargo ships AKN were built The first of this class was the USS Indus AKN 1 The Indus worked in Naval Base Philippines 6 7 Finally in 1946 the USS Montauk would be converted back from an LSV to net cargo duties as the USS Galilea AKN 6 British and Commonwealth editThe United Kingdom and British Commonwealth referred to net laying ship as boom defence vessel 8 9 Bar class boom defence vessel built in the 1940s Net class boom defence vessel built in the 1930s Gallery edit nbsp The boom defence net at Scapa Flow being towed into position by two Royal Navy boom defence vessels in 1943 nbsp At Scapa Flow a Royal Navy net laying vessel prepares to lay an anti submarine net which is 900 feet 275 metres long weighs over 40 Imperial tons 41 tonnes and could be laid in 4 minutes nbsp HMS Rogate a Royal Navy gate vessel designed to open and close the boom and nets at Portsmouth Harbour during World War II nbsp HMCS Ypres was a Battle class trawler used by the Royal Canadian Navy as a gate vessel She was sunk in a collision with a battleship in May 1940 nbsp The US Navy wooden net tender USS Terebinth AN 59 in wartime camouflage nbsp HMAS Kangaroo a Bar class boom defence vessel of the Royal Australian Navy in 1947 nbsp USS Montauk after completion of her LSV conversion mostly internal See also editList of auxiliaries of the United States Navy Net cargo ships AKN List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy Net laying ships AN List of yard and district craft of the United States Navy Yard Net Tenders YN List of yard and district craft of the United States Navy Net Gate Craft YNG List of yard and district craft of the United States Navy Net Tender Tugs YNT US Naval Advance Bases Wooden boats of World War IIReferences editCitations edit Friedman Norman 2002 U S Amphibious Ships and Craft An Illustrated Design History Annapolis Maryland United States Naval Institute ISBN 1 55750 250 1 a b Miller Edward S 1991 War Plan Orange The U S Strategy to Defeat Japan 1897 1945 Annapolis MD United States Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 59114 500 7 Friedman 2002 pp 178 179 Jurens W 2016 Life in the Slow Lane Some Thoughts on Minelayer and Netlayer Evolution Warship International LIII 1 59 68 ISSN 0043 0374 World War II Net Tenders Navsource Online USS Indus AKN 1 US Navy USS Indus AKN 1 Net Tender Storynavsource org Richard Pelvin with Robert Darby Australian War Memorial Know your warships Page 67 PDF www awm gov au Archived from the original PDF on 10 April 2008 Retrieved 21 September 2010 Boom defence vesseluboat net Footnotes edit These ships were of a common design with three fleet minelayers USS Terror CM 5 USS Catskill CM 6 and USS Ozark CM 7 which are listed hereExternal links editPhotos of HMNZS Endeavour Antarctic support ship ex US netlayer Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Net laying ship amp oldid 1225137350, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
