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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Papaya (AN-49)
ex
 USS Papaya (YN-68) (1943 - 1944)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Foxtrot - Lima
 NYFL
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal
Ailanthus Class Net Laying Ship:
  • Laid down, as Yard Net Tender Papaya (YN-68), 2 November 1942, at Pollack Stockton Shipbuilding Co., Stockton, CA.
  • Launched, 23 May 1943
  • Commissioned, USS Papaya (YN-68), 1 December 1943, LCDR. Elias Johnson USNR in command
  • Reclassified Net Laying Ship (AN-49), 20 January 1944
  • During World War II Papaya was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 1 to 10 August 1944     		Tinian capture and occupation, 6 to 15 August 1944

  • Decommissioned, 31 January 1946, at Terminal Island, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 25 February 1946
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • USS Papaya earned two battle stars for World War II service.
    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
    There are no images of Papaya (YN-68 / AN-48) available at NavSource
    USS Papaya (YN-68 / AN-49)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Johnson, Elias, USNR1 December 1943 - 15 December 1944
    02LT. Mellum, Richard William, USNR15 December 1944 - 12 December 1945
    03LTjg. Grubb, Willard Young, USNR12 December 1945 - 31 January 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    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
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 16 September 2016