USS Mimosa (AN-26)

USS "Mimosa" (AN-26/YN-21) was an "Aloe"-class net laying ship which was assigned to serve the U.S. Navy during World War II with her protective anti-submarine nets.

Built in Cleveland, Ohio

"Mimosa" (YN 21) was laid down 15 October 1940 by American Shipbuilding Company, Cleveland, Ohio; launched 15 March 1941; sponsored by Miss Alin Woehrman; and placed in service 28 October 1941, Lt. W. L. Freeburn in command.

World War service

East coast operations

Exiting the Great Lakes via the Welland Canal and the St. Lawrence River, "Mimosa" proceeded by short sailings down the U.S. East Coast. At the end of the year, with the Nation now at war, she steamed from Jacksonville, Florida, to bolster the defenses of the high priority Panama Canal.

For over 2 years she maintained the net defenses at Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone, and also installed submarine nets at Trujillo Bay, Honduras; Port Limon, Costa Rica; and Talora Bay, Peru. "Mimosa" commissioned 10 December 1942. In January 1944, 1-1⁄2 years after she herself had escaped a torpedo attack, "Mimosa" gave witness to the effectiveness with which the Navy’s antisubmarine program had checked the U-boat menace when she assisted in removing the nets along the Costa Rican and Honduran coasts. During this duty, the vessel was redesignated "AN-26" on 20 January.

Pacific Ocean operations

Transiting the canal 21 April, she sailed for the Mariana Islands, arriving 20 June in the midst of the Battle for Saipan. First removing the Japanese defensive nets and wrecked ships, "Mimosa" labored until 9 September helping to install a new net system for harbors on Saipan and Tinian.

The following year on 2 September as the war ended on "Missouri’s" deck, "Mimosa" began removing the 6-1⁄2 miles of nets she had been tending. The job complete, she sailed 26 October for San Pedro, California, arriving 27 November.

Post-war deactivation

Following alterations, she departed San Pedro, California, for Astoria, Oregon, 21 June 1946 with "Teak" (AN 35) in tow. Two months later "Mimosa" was herself towed from Portland, Oregon, to Vancouver, Washington, for inactivation. She decommissioned 27 September 1946 and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

On 13 July 1961 she was turned over to the U.S. Maritime Commission at Olympia, Washington, and entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet there. She was eventually scrapped, but the date is unknown.

Honors and awards

"Mimosa" (AN 26) received two battle stars for World War II service.

See also

* United States Navy
* World War II

References

*
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/18/18026.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - YN-21 / AN-26 Mimosa]