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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Ailanthus (AN-38)
ex
 USS Ailanthus (YN-57) (1943 - 1944)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Bravo - Sierra - Uniform
 NBSU
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Ailanthus Class Net Laying Ship:
  • Laid down as Yard Net Tender, YN-57, 17 November 1942, at Everett-Pacific Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Everett, WA.
  • Launched, 20 May 1943
  • Commissioned USS Ailanthus (YN-57), 1 December 1943, LT. Donald B. Howard, USNR, in command
  • Reclassified Net Laying Ship (AN-38), 20 January 1944
  • Final Disposition, ran aground in Alaskan waters, 26 February 1944, declared a total loss
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 9 June 1944
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,460 t.(fl)
    Length 194' 6"
    Beam 37'
    Draft 13' 6"
    Speed 12.1 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 4
    Enlisted 52
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Largest Boom Capacity 12 t.
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel 760 Bbls
    Ship's Service Generators
    two Diesel-drive 60Kw 120V D.C.
    Propulsion
    two Busch-Sulzer BS-539 Diesel-electric engines
    single propeller, 1,200shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Ailanthus 152k Ailanthus (YN-57) launching at Everett-Pacific Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Everett, WA., 20 May 1943 Sandra Carle
    Ailanthus 25k
    USS Ailanthus (YN-57 / AN-38)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Howard, Donald Baker, USNR1 December 1943 - 28 February 1944
    02LT. Kennedy, Ralph Keast, USNR (acting)28 February 1944 - 6 September 1944
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Net Tender Stories
    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
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 24 January 2020