- USS Snowbell (AN-52)
USS "Snowbell" (YN-71/AN-52) was a "Ailanthus"-class
net laying ship which served theU.S. Navy duringWorld War II . She operated in thePacific Ocean until she was destroyed byTyphoon Louise offOkinawa ,9 October 1945 .Constructed in California
"Snowbell" (AN-52) was laid down on
3 May 1943 by Pollock-Stockton Shipbuilding Co.,Stockton, California , as "YN-71"; launched on14 September 1943 ; redesignated as "AN-52" on20 January 1944 ; and commissioned on16 March 1944 , Lt. Comdr. Robert W. Nordstrom,USNR , in command.World War II service
"Snowbell" began her shakedown cruise from the
San Diego, California , area on16 April 1944 . She was then ordered toSan Pedro, California , to maintain the extensive harbor net installation there and also act as atraining ship for the Small Craft Training Center.Pacific ocean operations
On
24 December 1944 , the ship entered the yard of Craig Shipbuilding Corp.,Long Beach, California , for alteration and refitting. Her main mast was removed and two 20 millimeter guns were added. On27 January 1945 , loaded with nets and moorings, "Snowbell" sailed forPearl Harbor ,Territory of Hawaii . "Snowbell" arrived at Pearl Harbor on6 February . A week later, she sailed forUlithi , viaEniwetok andJohnston Island . The net tender remained there from 6 to11 March ; sailed for San Pedro,Leyte Gulf ; and departed there on the 19th for operations in preparation or the amphibious assault onOkinawa Gunto. The net layer entered the anchorage atKerama Retto on28 March and began laying a curtain of nets to protect American shipping from possible submarine attack.Shooting down an enemy plane
"Snowbell" tended nets at Kerama Retto until
15 May and then moved toBuckner Bay . On the 25th, she shot down her first enemy plane, a single-engine fighter plane, which crashed a few hundred yards from the ship. She continued operating in waters around Okinawa after the war had ended until early October.Destroyed in a typhoon
On
9 October , atyphoon with winds of approximately 150 miles per hour struck the area and "Snowbell". Her stern anchor let go, and she collided with "Chinquapin" (AN-17) on thestarboard side. At 1630, she went aground. On the reef only a few minutes, the ship's timbers began to break up. The ship was pounded by high winds and heavy seas. The next morning, thecommanding officer ordered all hands to leave the ship lest she capsize. On30 October , anInspection and Survey Board found the ship was unsalvageable. All equipment and stores were removed, and she was decommissioned on5 December . "Snowbell" was struck from theNavy list on19 December 1945 , and her hulk was blown up on14 January 1946 .Honors and awards
Snowbell received one battle star for World War II service in the Okinawa Gunto operation.
See also
*
U.S. Navy
*World War II Reference
*
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/18/18052.htm NavSource Online: YN-71 / AN-52 Snowbell]
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