USS Ailanthus (AN-38/YN-57) was an Ailanthus-classnet laying ship which served with the U.S. Navy in the western Pacific Ocean theatre of operations during World War II. She was assigned to the U.S. Pacific Fleet with her protective anti-submarine nets. She ran aground at Lash bay, Tanaga Island in the Aleutians 26 February 1944 and was declared a total loss. She was only six months old. Seabees of Naval Construction Battalion 45 assisted the ship's crew evacuate safely.
USS Ailanthus (YN-57) launching at Everett-Pacific Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Everett, WA., 20 May 1943
The net tender completed fitting out and, during the second half of December, conducted shakedown training. On the last day of 1943, she reported for duty in the 13th Naval District. On 20 January 1944, she was reclassified a net laying ship and redesignated AN-38.
However, her career proved very brief. Having delivered a cargo of perforated steel plating (Marston Mat) to a Navy Seabee contingent building an airfield on the westernmost island of Attu, Ailanthus was caught in a violent winter storm, and on 26 February 1944, slipped her anchorage and was driven hard aground, suffering extensive damage. While still stranded, Ailanthus was reassigned to the newly constituted 17th Naval District (the Alaskan portion of the old 13th Naval District to which she had originally been assigned). Finally, she was declared a total loss, and her name was struck from the Navy List on 9 June 1944.
ailanthus, ailanthus, class, laying, ship, which, served, with, navy, western, pacific, ocean, theatre, operations, during, world, assigned, pacific, fleet, with, protective, anti, submarine, nets, aground, lash, tanaga, island, aleutians, february, 1944, decl. USS Ailanthus AN 38 YN 57 was an Ailanthus class net laying ship which served with the U S Navy in the western Pacific Ocean theatre of operations during World War II She was assigned to the U S Pacific Fleet with her protective anti submarine nets She ran aground at Lash bay Tanaga Island in the Aleutians 26 February 1944 and was declared a total loss She was only six months old Seabees of Naval Construction Battalion 45 assisted the ship s crew evacuate safely USS Ailanthus YN 57 launching at Everett Pacific Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co Everett WA 20 May 1943HistoryUnited StatesNameUSS Ailanthus AN 38 NamesakeAilanthusBuilderEverett Pacific Shipbuilding amp Dry Dock Company Everett WashingtonLaid down17 November 1942 as YN 57Launched20 May 1943Sponsored byMiss Billie Jean McNattCommissioned2 December 1943 as USS Ailanthus YN 57 In service6 monthsReclassifiedAN 38 20 January 1944Stricken9 June 1944FateGrounded and declared a total loss General characteristicsClass and typeAilanthus class net laying shipDisplacement1 190 long tons 1 209 t Length194 ft 7 in 59 31 m Beam34 ft 7 in 10 54 m Draft11 ft 8 in 3 56 m PropulsionDiesel electric 2 500 hp 1 864 kW single propellerSpeed17 knots 20 mph 31 km h Complement56 officers and enlistedArmament1 3 50 caliber gun 4 twin 20 mm gunsBuilt in Washington EditAilanthus YN 57 was laid down on 17 November 1942 at Everett Washington by the Everett Pacific Shipbuilding amp Dry Dock Company launched on 20 May 1943 sponsored by Miss Billie Jean McNatt and placed in commission at Seattle Washington on 2 December 1943 World War II service Edit USS Ailanthus rescue by Naval Construction Battalion 45 on Tanaga Island in the Aleutians The net tender completed fitting out and during the second half of December conducted shakedown training On the last day of 1943 she reported for duty in the 13th Naval District On 20 January 1944 she was reclassified a net laying ship and redesignated AN 38 Early in February Ailanthus moved north to Pleasant Island Alaska where she arrived on 4 February Reassigned that same day to Service Squadron 6 U S Pacific Fleet she began to carry out net laying duties However her career proved very brief Having delivered a cargo of perforated steel plating Marston Mat to a Navy Seabee contingent building an airfield on the westernmost island of Attu Ailanthus was caught in a violent winter storm and on 26 February 1944 slipped her anchorage and was driven hard aground suffering extensive damage While still stranded Ailanthus was reassigned to the newly constituted 17th Naval District the Alaskan portion of the old 13th Naval District to which she had originally been assigned Finally she was declared a total loss and her name was struck from the Navy List on 9 June 1944 References EditThis article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here NavSource Online Service Ship Photo Archive YN 57 AN 38 Ailanthus Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Ailanthus amp oldid 1166239004, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
