USS Silverleaf

Last updated

History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Silverleaf
NamesakeThe white poplar
BuilderCanuelette Shipbuilding Co., Inc., Slidell, Louisiana
Laid down3 February 1943 as Silverleaf (YN-92)
Launched11 December 1943
Commissioned26 May 1944 as USS Silverleaf (AN-68)
Decommissioned18 April 1946 at San Pedro, California
ReclassifiedAN-68, 20 January 1944
Stricken5 June 1946
Homeport Melville, Rhode Island
Honours and
awards
one battle star for World War II service
Fatesold for scrapping, 31 March 1947
General characteristics
Class and type Ailanthus-class net laying ship
Tonnage1,100 tons
Displacement1,275 tons
Length194 ft 6 in (59.28 m)
Beam37 ft (11 m)
Draft13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
Propulsiondirect drive diesel engine, 2,500hp, single propeller
Speed12 knots
Complement56 officers and enlisted
Armamentone single 3 in (76 mm) gun mount, three 20 mm gun mounts

USS Silverleaf (AN-68/YN-92) was a Ailanthus-class net laying ship which was assigned to protect U.S. Navy ships and harbors during World War II with her anti-submarine nets.

Contents

Constructed in Slidell, Louisiana

Silverleaf (AN-68) was laid down on 3 February 1943 as YN-92 by Canulette Shipbuilding Co. Inc., Slidell, Louisiana; launched on 11 December 1943; redesignated AN-68 on 20 January 1944; and commissioned on 26 May 1944.

World War II service

On 6 June, Silverleaf sailed for Melville, Rhode Island, to hold her shakedown cruise from 13 to 30 June. She was in the Boston Navy Yard from 1 July to 29 August for post-shakedown availability.

The net layer moved to New York City and sailed from there on 3 September with a southbound convoy. On the 10th, she was ordered to proceed independently to San Diego, California, via the Panama Canal.

Silverleaf arrived at San Diego on 3 October and operated between there and San Pedro, California, until departing for Pearl Harbor on 5 December 1944. She remained there until 5 February 1945 when she steamed for Eniwetok, Marshall Islands. The tender was then attached to the U.S. 5th Fleet for the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima; remaining there with Task Force 94 until 10 August. From 13 August until 20 November 1945, Silverleaf operated from Guam and Marcus Island. On the 20th, she sailed for San Pedro, California, via Pearl Harbor, for disposal, arriving on 1 January 1946.

Post-war inactivation

Silverleaf was stripped for sale to the Republic of China Government, but the ship was in such poor condition that she was decommissioned on 18 April. She was struck from the Navy list on 5 June 1946 and sold to Joe Medina Enterprises, San Diego, California, on 31 March 1947 for scrap.

Honors and awards

Silverleaf received one battle star for World War II service.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Situla</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Situla (AK-140) was a Crater-class cargo ship in the service of the United States Navy in World War II. It was the only ship of the Navy to have borne this name. It is named after the star Situla.

USS <i>Herald</i> (AM-101) 1942 minesweeper

USS Herald (AM-101) was an Auk-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.

USS <i>Snowbell</i>

USS Snowbell (YN-71/AN-52) was a Ailanthus-class net laying ship which served the U.S. Navy during World War II. She operated in the Pacific Ocean until she was destroyed by Typhoon Louise off Okinawa, 9 October 1945.

USS <i>Hoptree</i>

USS Hoptree (AN-62/YN-83) was a Ailanthus-class net laying ship that served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Hoptree performed her tour of duty in the Pacific Ocean and, post-war, she was decommissioned and sold.

USS Chinaberry (AN-61/YN-82) was a Ailanthus-class net laying ship which served the United States Navy during World War II. Chinaberry operated in both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean before being decommissioned at war's end.

USS <i>Terebinth</i>

USS Terebinth (AN-59) – laid down as USS Balm (YN-78) – was a Ailanthus-class net laying ship which served with the U.S. Navy during World War II. Terebinth served in the Pacific Ocean theatre of operations and was awarded a battle star for her participation in the Okinawa campaign. Post-war she was decommissioned and sold.

USS Viburnum (AN-57/YN-76) was a Ailanthus-class net laying ship which served with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Ocean theatre of operations. While operating in the Caroline Islands, she was severely damaged when struck by what appeared to be a Japanese torpedo. However, she continued her work as well as she could, and, when she returned to the United States, she was considered too damaged to repair. She was sold in her damaged condition, and was eventually scrapped.

USS Torchwood (AN-55/YN-74) was an Ailanthus-class net laying ship which served with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Ocean theatre of operations during World War II. She performed her net laying services until war’s end, and then was given to the Republic of China.

USS Manchineel (AN-54/YN-73) was an Ailanthus-class net-laying ship which served with the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific Ocean during World War II. It managed to survive the war without incident, and returned to the United States post-war for decommissioning.

USS Spicewood (AN-53/YN-72) was an Ailanthus-class net laying ship which served with the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific Ocean theatre of operations during World War II. Her career was without major incident, and she returned home after the war bearing one battle star to her credit.

USS <i>Silverbell</i>

USS Silverbell (AN-51/YN-70) was an Ailanthus-class net laying ship which served with the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific Ocean theatre of operations during World War II. Her career was without major incident, and she returned home after the war bearing one battle star to her credit.

USS Cinnamon (AN-50/YN-69) was an Ailanthus-class net laying ship which served with the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific Ocean theatre of operations during World War II. Her career was without major incident, and she returned home after the war bearing one battle star to her credit.

USS Papaya (AN-49/YN-68) was an Ailanthus-class net laying ship which served with the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific Ocean theatre of operations during World War II. Her career was without major incident, and she returned home after the war bearing two battle stars to her credit.

USS <i>Lancewood</i>

USS Lancewood (AN-48/YN-67) was an Ailanthus-class net laying ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. In service in the Pacific during the war, she earned one battle star. After her February 1946 decommissioning, she was sold to France as Commandant Charcot. Her fate is not reported in secondary sources.

USS Satinleaf (AN-43/YN-62) 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. Her career was without major incident, and she returned home safely after the war with two battle stars to her credit.

USS <i>Cliffrose</i> Ship

USS Cliffrose (AN-42/YN-61) 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. Her career was without major incident, and she returned home safely after the war with two battle stars to her credit.

USS <i>Stagbush</i> Tender of the United States Navy

USS Stagbush (AN-69/YN-93) was an Ailanthus-class net laying ship which served with the United States Navy in the western Pacific Ocean theatre of operations during World War II. Her career was without major incident, and she returned home safely after the war with one battle star to her credit.

USS Anaqua (AN-40/YN-59) was an Ailanthus-class net laying ship which served with the United States Navy in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. She served the U.S. Pacific Fleet with her protective anti-submarine nets, and returned home safely after the war.

USS Bitterbush (AN-39/YN-58) 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 served the U.S. Pacific Fleet with her protective anti-submarine nets, and returned home safely after the war with one battle star to her credit.

USS Shellbark (AN-67/YN-91) was a Ailanthus-class net laying ship which was assigned to protect U.S. Navy ships and harbors during World War II with her anti-submarine nets.

References