Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Pepperwood (AN-36)
ex
 USS Pepperwood (YN-31) (1942 - 1944)
 Pepperwood (YN-31) (1942)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Golf - Hotel
 NWGH
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal

USS Pepperwood (AN-36) was transferred to France, renamed RFS Tarentule (A-729)
Aloe Class Net Laying Ship:
  • Laid down, 25 October 1940, as Yard Net Tender, YN-31, at John H. Mathias Co., Camden, N.J.
  • Launched, 7 July 1941
  • Placed in service as Pepperwood (YN-31), 8 June 1942, at Camden, N.J.
  • Commissioned, USS Pepperwood (YN-31), 15 December 1942, at Norfolk, VA., LT. Charles E. Hall in command
  • During World War II USS Pepperwood was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    North African occupation, 24 April to 31 December 1943
  • Reclassified Net Laying Ship (AN-36), 30 January 1944
  • Decommissioned, 15 December 1944
  • Transferred to the French Navy under Lend Lease, 15 December 1944, renamed RFS Tarentule (A-729)
  • Sold outright to France, 21 March 1948
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 28 April 1949
  • Struck from the French Navy, 14 April 1972
  • USS Pepperwood earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 700 t.(fl) 805 t.(lim)
    Length 162' 2""
    Beam 30' 6"
    Draft 11' 8" (lim)
    Speed 12.5 kts. (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 4
    Enlisted 44
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    two .50 cal machine guns
    one y-gun.
    Largest Boom Capacity 12 t.
    Propulsion
    one Enterprise DSG-6 Diesel-electric engine
    Single Westinghouse Main Reduction Gear
    two Diesel-drive 60Kw 120V D.C. Ships Service Generators
    Single propeller, 800shp
    Fuel Capacity - Diesel 620 Bbls
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Pepperwood (YN-31)
    Pepperwood 84k Pepperwood (YN-31) under way on trials in the Delaware River, off Camden, New Jersey, 10 June 1942.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NH 73437    		 Mike Green
    RFS Tarentule (A-729)
    Pepperwood 59k Ex-Pepperwood (AN-36) in The Republic of France service RFS Tarentule(A-729) underway, circa 1946, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Pepperwood 52k RFS Tarentule(A-729) underway, date and location unknown. Michel Martin
    Pepperwood
    091803607    		 284k RFS Tarentule(A-729) underway, date and location unknown. Jacques Druel
    Pepperwood 76k RFS Tarentule(A-729) somewhere in Vietnam during the French-Indochina War, circa 1955. André Pilon, RFS Golo
    Pepperwood
    091803608    		 294k RFS Tarentule(A-729) underway at French-Indochina in 1955 Jacques Druel
    Pepperwood
    091803609    		 415k
    Pepperwood
    091803610    		 176k RFS Tarentule(A-729) moored at French-Indochina in 1955 Jacques Druel
    Pepperwood 107k RFS Tarentule(A-729) at Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia, circa 1965. Robert Hurst
    Pepperwood 73k RFS Tarentule(A-729) at Mururoa Atoll, French Polynesia, circa 1969-70. Robert Hurst
    USS Pepperwood (YN-31 / AN-36)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Yard and District Craft Photo Index Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Yard Net Tender (YN) Photo Index Back To Net Laying Ship (AN) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created by David W. Almond and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 3 November 2023