USS Ailanthus (AN-38) Class

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USS Pinon (AN-66) on 20 March 1944
Click on this photograph for links to larger images of this class.

Class:        AILANTHUS (AN-38)
Design:        Navy YN-57/AN-38
Displacement (tons):        1,175 light, 1,460 lim.
Dimensions (feet):        194.5' oa, 169.2' wl x 37.0' e x 13.5 lim.
Original Armament:        1-3"/50 2-20mm
Later armaments:        1-3"/50 3-20mm (from Apr. 1944); 1-3"/50 4-20mm (from Nov. 1944)
Complement:        43 (1944)
Speed (kts.):        12.1
Propulsion (HP):        1,200
Machinery:        Diesel electric, 1 screw

Construction:

AN	Name	Ord.	Builder	Keel	Launch	Commiss.
38	AILANTHUS	12 May 42	Everett Pacific SB	17 Nov 42	20 May 43	2 Dec 43
39	BITTERBUSH	12 May 42	Everett Pacific SB	30 Nov 42	30 Jun 43	15 Jan 44
40	ANAQUA	12 May 42	Everett Pacific SB	16 Dec 42	16 Aug 43	21 Feb 44
41	BARETTA	12 May 42	Everett Pacific SB	19 Dec 42	9 Oct 43	18 Mar 44
42	CLIFFROSE	12 May 42	Everett Pacific SB	25 May 43	27 Nov 43	30 Apr 44
43	SATINLEAF	12 May 42	Everett Pacific SB	5 Jul 43	15 Feb 44	8 Apr 44
44	CORKWOOD	12 May 42	Everett Pacific SB	18 Aug 43	29 Mar 44	16 May 44
45	CORNEL	12 May 42	Everett Pacific SB	9 Oct 43	21 Apr 44	6 Jun 44
46	MASTIC	12 May 42	Everett Pacific SB	27 Nov 43	19 May 44	4 Jul 44
47	CANOTIA	12 May 42	Everett Pacific SB	16 Feb 44	4 Jul 44	31 Jul 44
48	LANCEWOOD	12 May 42	Pollock-Stockton SB	15 Oct 42	2 May 43	18 Oct 43
49	PAPAYA	12 May 42	Pollock-Stockton SB	2 Nov 42	23 May 43	1 Dec 43
50	CINNAMON	12 May 42	Pollock-Stockton SB	6 Nov 42	6 Jun 43	10 Jan 44
51	SILVERBELL	12 May 42	Pollock-Stockton SB	7 Nov 42	19 Jun 43	16 Feb 44
52	SNOWBELL	12 May 42	Pollock-Stockton SB	3 May 43	14 Sep 43	16 Mar 44
53	SPICEWOOD	12 May 42	Pollock-Stockton SB	25 May 43	6 Dec 43	7 Apr 44
54	MANCHINEEL	12 May 42	Pollock-Stockton SB	8 Jun 43	1 Jan 44	26 Apr 44
55	TORCHWOOD	12 May 42	Pollock-Stockton SB	22 Jun 43	19 Feb 44	12 May 44
56	WINTERBERRY	12 May 42	Pollock-Stockton SB	17 Sep 43	22 Mar 44	30 May 44
57	VIBURNUM	12 May 42	Pollock-Stockton SB	9 Dec 43	26 Apr 44	27 Jun 44
58	ABELE	30 Jul 42	Barbour Boat, New Bern	8 Jan 43	15 Jul 43	2 Jun 44
59	TEREBINTH	30 Jul 42	Barbour Boat, New Bern	24 Mar 43	19 Aug 43	5 Aug 44
60	CATCLAW	30 Jul 42	Snow SY	24 Sep 42	22 May 43	14 Jan 44
61	CHINABERRY	30 Jul 42	Snow SY	24 Sep 42	19 Jul 43	12 Mar 44
62	HOP TREE	30 Jul 42	Snow SY	24 Sep 42	14 Oct 43	18 May 44
63	WHITEWOOD	30 Jul 42	Snow SY	24 Oct 42	21 Apr 44	17 Jul 44
66	PINON	30 Jul 42	American Car & Fdry	9 Mar 43	10 Jan 44	31 Mar 44
67	SHELLBARK	14 Sep 42	Canulette SB	15 Jan 43	31 Oct 43	12 Apr 44
68	SILVERLEAF	14 Sep 42	Canulette SB	3 Feb 43	11 Dec 43	26 May 44
69	STAGBUSH	14 Sep 42	Canulette SB	9 Feb 43	29 Jan 44	30 Aug 44
73	British PRECEPT	30 Jul 42	Barbour Boat, New Bern	5 Aug 43	11 Apr 44	--
74	British PRECISE	30 Jul 42	Barbour Boat, New Bern	14 Sep 43	20 Jul 44	--
75	British PREFECT	30 Jul 42	American Car & Fdry	1 Apr 43	8 Mar 44	--
76	British PRETEXT	30 Jul 42	American Car & Fdry	1 May 43	23 May 44	--
77	British PREVENTER	30 Jul 42	American Car & Fdry	20 May 43	9 Aug 44	--

Disposition:

AN	Name	Decomm.	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
38	AILANTHUS	--	9 Jun 44	14 Mar 44	Lost	--
39	BITTERBUSH	4 Jan 46	21 Jan 46	6 May 47	MC/D	22 Apr 47
40	ANAQUA	7 Feb 46	26 Feb 46	6 Mar 47	MC/D	3 Mar 47
41	BARETTA	4 Apr 46	8 May 46	24 Jan 47	MC/D	20 Jan 47
42	CLIFFROSE	10 Jan 47	7 Feb 47	10 Jan 47	FLC	--
43	SATINLEAF	4 Apr 46	8 May 46	7 May 47	MC/D	11 Apr 47
44	CORKWOOD	7 Mar 46	20 Mar 46	18 Jun 47	MC/D	18 Jun 47
45	CORNEL	15 Feb 46	12 Mar 46	29 Jan 47	MC/D	27 Jan 47
46	MASTIC	1 Mar 46	28 Mar 46	6 Jun 47	MC/D	4 Jun 47
47	CANOTIA	18 Feb 46	20 Mar 46	21 Apr 47	MC/D	15 Apr 47
48	LANCEWOOD	11 Feb 46	12 Mar 46	3 May 47	MC/D	22 Apr 47
49	PAPAYA	31 Jan 46	25 Feb 46	9 Apr 47	MC/D	21 Mar 47
50	CINNAMON	25 Mar 47	23 Apr 47	25 Mar 47	FLC	--
51	SILVERBELL	10 Jan 47	28 Jan 47	10 Jan 47	FLC	--
52	SNOWBELL	5 Dec 45	19 Dec 45	14 Jan 46	Dest.	--
53	SPICEWOOD	20 Feb 46	12 Mar 46	18 Apr 47	MC/D	17 Apr 47
54	MANCHINEEL	11 Mar 46	12 Apr 46	18 Jun 47	MC/D	25 Mar 47
55	TORCHWOOD	26 Oct 46	23 Apr 47	26 Oct 46	FLC	--
56	WINTERBERRY	15 Feb 46	26 Feb 46	31 Mar 47	MC/D	13 Mar 47
57	VIBURNUM	3 Jan 46	21 Jan 46	12 Aug 47	MC/D	21 Jul 47
58	ABELE	1 Mar 46	28 Mar 46	7 May 47	MC/D	11 Apr 47
59	TEREBINTH	31 Jan 46	26 Feb 46	23 Apr 47	MC/D	21 Apr 47
60	CATCLAW	19 Apr 46	1 May 46	20 Apr 46	FLC	--
61	CHINABERRY	26 Mar 46	5 Mar 47	27 Feb 50	Sold	--
62	HOP TREE	1 Mar 46	20 Mar 46	23 Apr 47	MC/D	15 Apr 47
63	WHITEWOOD	1 Apr 49	7 Jun 49	3 Mar 50	Sold
66	PINON	5 Mar 46	20 Mar 46	16 Apr 47	MC/D	15 Apr 47
67	SHELLBARK	19 Apr 46	1 May 46	20 Apr 46	FLC	--
68	SILVERLEAF	18 Apr 46	5 Jun 46	31 Mar 47	MC/D	26 Mar 47
69	STAGBUSH	26 Mar 46	21 May 46	3 May 47	MC/D	22 Apr 47
73	British PRECEPT	--	28 Mar 46	14 Oct 44	Trf.	19 Mar 47
74	British PRECISE	--	28 Mar 46	21 Dec 44	Trf.	10 Apr 47
75	British PREFECT	--	28 Mar 46	3 Jun 44	Trf.	21 Mar 47
76	British PRETEXT	--	28 Mar 46	5 Aug 44	Trf.	20 Jul 47
77	British PREVENTER	--	28 Mar 46	30 Sep 44	Trf.	18 Mar 47

Class Notes:
Built with funds appropriated for Maintenance, Bureau of Ships (AN 38-57, no fiscal year designated but probably FY 1942) and FY 1942 (AN 58-77). Light displacements varied from 1,100 to 1,225 tons. Wood hulls (substituted for steel around 10 Apr 42). These ships were included in the huge building programs of late 1941 and early 1942 for small patrol and mine warfare combatants. CNO directed the construction of YN 57-66 (later AN 38-47) for the British on 30 Sep 41, construction of YN 67-76 (later AN 48-57) for the British was directed on 25 Feb 42, and procurement of YN 77-96 (later AN 58-77 in different order) for the U.S. was included in the 1799 Vessels Program on 17 Jan 42. On 1 Apr 42 the Bureau of Ships asked for clearance to order YN 57-96 at three yards: American SB, Cleveland (YN 57-72), John H. Mathis (YN 73-84), and Miami SB (YN 85-96). This plan was caught up in a major redistribution of small combatant contracts and these contracts were not awarded. Instead in May YN 57-76 were awarded to two builders in place of PCE contracts that had been awarded in March and cancelled in April, YN 57-66 replacing PCE 897-916 at Everett Pacific and YN 67-76 replacing PCE 937-56 at Pollock-Stockton. YN 77-90 were assigned to three yards in July and YN 91-96 brought up the rear in September.

On 19 Feb 43, after reviewing both U.S. and British requirements for net tenders and the numbers they had in service and in procurement, CominCh asked the Munitions Assignment Board to reallocate to the U.S. the 20 that had been ordered for the UK. Ultimately the UK allocation was reduced to five units (AN 73-77). On 10 Jul 44 CNO directed the cancellation of ten of these ships as part of a cutback in naval shipbuilding, but on 5 Aug 44 he withdrew this cancellation and directed that they be completed as tugs. On 9 Aug 44 he noted that only five of the ships, plus those allocated to the UK, remained undelivered at their builders' yards and reduced the number of tug conversions to these five. AN 64-65 and 70-72 (ex YN 85-86 and 94-96) were reclassified ATA 214-218 (q.v.) on 12 Aug 44.

The three armament configurations of this class are easily recognized. The original design had two 20mm guns on top of the bridge and a small rangefinder platform on a pedestal between the bridge and the stack. On 7 Mar 44 the Bureau of Ordnance advised that it did not intend to fit rangefinders to this class and recommended that a 20mm gun be installed on the platform instead. On 18 Apr 44 CNO approved this change for both the AN-38 and AN-78 classes. The platform was to be raised enough to provide maximum arcs of fire, including over the 20mm guns on the bridge. On 29 Sep 44 BuShips informed CNO that this arrangement had resulted in an unsatisfactory condition on TEREBINTH (AN-59), which reported that the arc of fire for the third 20mm gun was restricted, that the platform (located just forward of the smokestack) was too hot to permit storage of ready service ammunition, that crew members of this gun had become sick from stack gas fumes, and that the vessel lacked anti-aircraft protection aft. In response the Bureau recommended removing the third gun and its platform, removing the mainmast and its boom (which other modifications had rendered unnecessary), installing two 20mm guns on a platform at the after end of the deckhouse, and installing a light pole mast aft of the smokestack to support the radio antennas and range light. The change was soon approved for AN 39-63 and 66-69. On 28 Apr 45 the four 20mm single mounts were ordered replaced with four 20mm twins, but this change does not seem to have been implemented in this class.

Many of these ships were disposed of under a postwar MC sales program for small vessels that was distinct from its programs for large vessels. MC and Navy records both tend to give the dates on which the vessels were delivered to the buyers (the Navy data being in the "Disp" column in the table and the MC dates in the "MA Sale" column). However MC records sometimes give what appear to be the dates the sales were awarded, and Navy records sometimes give additional delivery dates (some from MC delivery receipts) that differ from those in the table. All of these alternative dates are provided in the ship notes for this class to show the complexity of these sales.

Lengths on a plan dated 3 Sep 43 were as follows: 198.2' overall (including forward horn and stern chafing protection), 181.7' on main deck (outside quarter logs to face of stem), 173.9' on 10-foot waterline (including 1/2" stem band), and 169.2' between perpendiculars. The beam at deck edge to outside of planking was 35.6', the extreme beam to outside of planking was 37.0', and the mean load draft (above bottom of keel shoe) was 11.7'.

Ship Notes:

AN	Name	Notes
38	AILANTHUS	Ex YN-57 20 Jan 44. Grounded in Aleutians 26 Feb 44 and declared lost as of 14 Mar 44.
39	BITTERBUSH	Ex YN-58 20 Jan 44. Ex ALMOND 3 Apr 43. Sold (awarded) by MC to A. Navarro, Barnett Shipping Co., New York. Merc. CIUDAD BOLIVAR 1948, burned off Puerto Rico 27 May 54.
40	ANAQUA	Ex YN-59 20 Jan 44. Sold (delivered) by MC to Robert J. Heffner, Santa Ana, Cal. (date in Navy records is 6 Mar 47). Merc. ANAQUA 1948.
41	BARETTA	Ex YN-60 20 Jan 44. Sold (delivered) by MC to O. Clive Webster, Jamaica. Merc. BARETTA 1947
42	CLIFFROSE	Ex YN-61 20 Jan 44. Survived grounding at Buckner Bay during typhoon of 9 Oct 45. Arrived at San Pedro, Calif., 1 Jan 46, ordered to Shanghai Feb 46 for transfer to Chinese Maritime Customs via FLC. Departed Subic Bay 26 Oct 46 enroute transfer. Decomm. at Shanghai and turned over to Chinese Maritime Customs via FLC 10 Jan 47.
43	SATINLEAF	Ex YN-62 20 Jan 44. Sold (awarded) by MC to E. E. Johnson, Great Lakes Lumber & Shipping Co., Fort William, Ontario, Canada (MC receipt showed delivery to buyer 29 Apr 47). Merc. ROCKY RIVER 1949, FOUNDATION JOSEPHINE II 1952, NORTH STAR IV 1960, grounded in James Bay, Quebec, 14 Aug 61.
44	CORKWOOD	Ex YN-63 20 Jan 44. Sold (delivered) by MC to Walter H. Wilms, Detroit, Mich.
45	CORNEL	Ex YN-64 20 Jan 44. Sold (delivered) by MC to Charles W. Cradick, Los Angeles, Cal. (MC receipt showed delivery to buyer 29 Jan 47). Merc. MARIA INES, SEA PEARL 1957, burned near Wewak, New Guinea, 3 Jun 57.
46	MASTIC	Ex YN-65 20 Jan 44. Ex GINKGO 17 Apr 43. Sold (delivered) by MC to William Semar, Northland Transportation Co., Seattle, Wash., and R. H. Duff, Washington, D.C. Merc. ARCTIC MAID 1948.
47	CANOTIA	Ex YN-66 20 Jan 44. Sold (awarded) by MC to Robert Martinolich, San Francisco, Cal. (MC receipt showed delivery to buyer 17 Apr 47.)
48	LANCEWOOD	Ex YN-67 20 Jan 44. Ex IRONWOOD 3 Apr 43. Sold (awarded) by MC to Robert A. Martinolich, San Francisco, Cal. (MC receipt showed delivery to buyer 28 Apr 47). Merc. ATIETTE (Guadeloupe) 1947, then French antarctic exploration ship COMMANDANT CHARCOT (3 expeditions to Terre Adelie 14 Sep 48 to 1 Jun 51, the second using an embarked seaplane). In reserve at Brest 1952, scrapped 1963.
49	PAPAYA	Ex YN-68 20 Jan 44. Sold (awarded) by MC to Salvatore Crivello, San Diego, Cal.. Merc. PACIFIC REEFER 1956, IRMA CATALIN 1956, MAYON I 1959, MAIGUS LUCK 1959, burned off Peru 11 Feb 64.
50	CINNAMON	Ex YN-69 20 Jan 44. Ex ROYAL PALM 7 Dec 43. Arrived at San Francisco 21 Dec 45 for disposal, selected 8 Feb 46 as buoy and lighthouse tender for Chinese Maritime Customs, ordered to Shanghai Apr 46. Decomm. at Shanghai and turned over to Chinese Maritime Customs via FLC 25 Mar 47.
51	SILVERBELL	Ex YN-70 20 Jan 44. Arrived at San Francisco 21 Dec 45 for disposal, selected 8 Feb 46 as buoy and lighthouse tender for Chinese Maritime Customs, ordered to Shanghai May 46. Departed Subic Bay enroute transfer 22 Dec 46. Decomm. at Shanghai and turned over to Chinese Maritime Customs via FLC 10 Jan 47. Later to the Taiwanese Customs Preventive Service, scrapped 1974.
52	SNOWBELL	Ex YN-71 20 Jan 44. Hard aground in typhoon at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, 9 Oct 45 and beyond economical repair. Wreck blown up Jan 46.
53	SPICEWOOD	Ex YN-72 20 Jan 44. Sold (delivered) by MC to Costa Rica Marine Products Co., c/o Van Camp Sea Food Co. Inc., Terminal Is., Cal. (Navy reported delivery to buyer 18 Apr 47). Merc. SPICEWOOD, burned at Talara 29 Jun 61.
54	MANCHINEEL	Ex YN-73 20 Jan 44. Ex SUMAC 3 Apr 43. Sold (awarded) by MC to9 Walter H. Wilms, Detroit, Mich. (MC receipt showed delivery to buyer 16 Jun 47).
55	TORCHWOOD	Ex YN-74 20 Jan 44. Arrived at San Francisco 21 Dec 45 for disposal, selected 8 Feb 46 as buoy and lighthouse tender for Chinese Maritime Customs, ordered to Shanghai May 46. Departed Subic Bay enroute transfer 22 Dec 46. Decomm. at Shanghai and turned over to Chinese Maritime Customs via FLC 10 Jan 47. Later to the Taiwanese Customs Preventive Service, scrapped 1973.
56	WINTERBERRY	Ex YN-75 20 Jan 44. Ex TUPELO 3 Apr 43. Sold (awarded) by MC to Jose Machado Medina, San Diego, Cal. Merc. TROJAN, ATLANTIC REEFER 1950, foundered in Yucatan Channel 12 Apr 63.
57	VIBURNUM	Ex YN-76 20 Jan 44. Severely damaged by probable enemy mine at Ulithi 28 Oct 44. To San Pedro ca. Apr 45, inspection Jun 45 found back broken, and on 12 Jul 45 she was decommissioned, placed in service status, and used as is for limited harbor duty. Out of service 3 Jan 46. Sold (delivered) to Walter H. Wilms & Co., Detroit, Mich.
58	ABELE	Ex YN-77 20 Jan 44. Sold (awarded) by MC to E. E. Johnson, Great Lakes Lumber & Shipping Co., Fort William, Ontario, Canada (MC receipt showed delivery to buyer 29 Apr 47). Merc. ABELE 1948, SUPERIOR STRAITS 1954.
59	TEREBINTH	Ex YN-78 20 Jan 44. Ex BALM 7 Dec 43. Sold (delivered) by MC to Van Camp Sea Food Co., Terminal Is., Cal. Merc. CARIBBEAN 1949.
60	CATCLAW	Ex YN-81 20 Jan 44. Decomm. at Shanghai 19 Apr 46 and turned over to Chinese Maritime Customs via FLC 20 Apr 46.
61	CHINABERRY	Ex YN-82 20 Jan 44. Withdrawn from MC sale program by Navy 14 Oct 47 and held for possible transfer to the Netherlands, hold released Jul 48. Sold by Navy 24 Jan 50, to buyer 27 Feb 50.
62	HOP TREE	Ex YN-83 20 Jan 44. Sold (awarded) by MC to Van Camp Sea Food Co., Terminal Is., Cal. Merc. HOP TREE 1950, scrapped 1954.
63	WHITEWOOD	Ex YN-84 20 Jan 44. Name HORNBEAM originally proposed but rejected. Selected by CNO 11 Apr 46 for Project Nanook in place of ATA-217 and converted for ice operations by NSY Boston. Reclassified AG-129 14 Jan 47. Hull seams opened 7-8 Dec 48 by pounding ice near Narsarssuak, Greenland, and ship beached to prevent sinking. Sold by Navy 24 Jan 50, to buyer 3 Mar 50.
66	PINON	Ex YN-87 20 Jan 44. Sold (awarded) by MC to Van Camp Sea Food Co., Terminal Is., Cal. Merc. AMERICAN LASS, ALASKA REEFER, burned in Puget Sound 28 Aug 61.
67	SHELLBARK	Ex YN-91 20 Jan 44. Contract later re-dated 9 Feb 43. Decomm. at Shanghai 19 Apr 46 and turned over to Chinese Maritime Customs via FLC 20 Apr 46.
68	SILVERLEAF	Ex YN-92 20 Jan 44. Contract later re-dated 9 Feb 43. Selected 8 Feb 46 as buoy and lighthouse tender for Chinese Maritime Customs but replaced by AN-42 due poor condition. Sold (delivered) by MC to Jose Machado Medina, San Diego, Cal.
69	STAGBUSH	Ex YN-93 20 Jan 44. Contract later re-dated 9 Feb 43. Sold (awarded) by MC to Robert A. Martinolich, San Francisco (MC receipt showed delivery to buyer 25 Apr 47). Merc. ANNA LUCIA 1948, OMAR BABUN, burned at Norfolk 16 Oct 54 after grounding near Cape Hatteras 13 May 54.
73	British PRECEPT	Ex YN-79 20 Jan 44. U.S. name BALSAM proposed but rejected, BLACKHAW then rejected 5 Jul 43 as ship scheduled for transfer. Completed 14 Oct 44 and to UK under Lend Lease, returned by UK 1 Apr 46, from Navy to MC 21 Mar 47. Sold (awarded) by MC to Wood Towing Corp., Norfolk, Va.
74	British PRECISE	Ex YN-80 20 Jan 44. Ex USS BOXELDER. Completed 21 Dec 44 and to UK under Lend Lease, returned by UK 28 Dec 45, from Navy to MC 10 Apr 47. Sold (delivered) by MC to Fred Perry, New York. Merc. PRECISE, foundered near Puerto Cabezas 13 Oct 58.
75	British PREFECT	Ex YN-88 20 Jan 44. U.S. name REDBUD proposed but rejected, CHOLLA then rejected 5 Jul 43 as ship scheduled for transfer. Completed 3 Jun 44 and to UK under Lend Lease, returned by UK 14 Dec 45, from Navy to MC 3 Apr 47. Sold (awarded) by MC to William S. Bradley, Dallas, Tex. Merc. ARCTIC PROWLER 1948, NORTH STAR IV 1962
76	British PRETEXT	Ex YN-89 20 Jan 44. Ex HMS PROTECT, ex USS SATINWOOD. Completed 5 Aug 44 and to UK under Lend Lease, returned by UK 8 Jan 46, from Navy to MC 20 Jul 47. Sold (delivered) by MC to B. B. Wills, Washington, D.C. Became Falklands Island surveying vessel JOHN BISCOE, HMNZS ENDEAVOR 1956, merc. ARCTIC ENDEAVOR 1962. Sank in storm 1982.
77	British PREVENTER	Ex YN-90 20 Jan 44. Ex USS SEAGRAPE. Completed 30 Sep 44 and to UK under Lend Lease, returned by UK 10 Jan 46, from Navy to MC 1 Apr 47. Sold (awarded) by MC to B. B. Wills, Washington, D.C. Merc. PREVENTER.