- USS Bitterbush (AN-39)
USS "Bitterbush" (AN-39/YN-58) was an "Ailanthus"-class
net laying ship which served with theU.S. Navy in the westernPacific Ocean theatre of operations duringWorld War II . She served theU.S. Pacific Fleet with her protective anti-submarine nets, and returned home safely after the war with onebattle star to her credit.Built in Washington
The net tender "Almond" (YN-58) was laid down on
30 November 1942 atEverett, Washington , by the Everett Pacific Ship Building and Dry Dock Co.; renamed "Bitterbush" on3 April 1943 ; launched on30 June 1943 ; sponsored by Miss Veberly Jean Miller; and commissioned on15 January 1944 , Lt. Harry E. Horrocks, Jr.,USNR , in command.World War II service
Redesignated a net laying ship, "AN-39", on
20 January 1944 , "Bitterbush" completed outfitting on26 February 1944 , reported for duty to the Commander, Operational Training Command, Pacific, and departedSeattle, Washington , forSan Diego, California , that same day. Following shakedown training, "Bitterbush" reported for duty to the Commandant,12th Naval District , arriving atSan Francisco, California , on20 March . The ship worked the submarine nets atTiburon, California , and San Francisco over the next eight months, before departingSan Francisco Bay on29 November 1944 ."Bitterbush" made stops at Port Hueneme,
Terminal Island , andSan Pedro, California , before setting out across thePacific Ocean on5 December 1944 . Proceeding toPearl Harbor , the ship reported on5 January 1945 to the Commander, 5th Amphibious Force, for duty. Underway fromOahu on24 January 1945 , the ship sailed viaEniwetok andGuam toIwo Jima . After voyage repairs, "Bitterbush" worked on thesubmarine net line at the recently conquered island through the end of hostilities with Japan.End-of-war decommissioning
On
17 September 1945 , she sailed for theUnited States . Proceeding viaSaipan ,Eniwetok , andPearl Harbor , the ship reached San Francisco by20 October 1945 . Entering drydock soon after her arrival, the net layer -- although at one time considered for use removing anti-submarine nets in the12th Naval District -- remained drydocked at theMare Island Naval Shipyard until decommissioned on4 January 1946 . Deemed surplus to Navy needs, "Bitterbush" was struck from theNavy list on21 January 1946 .Transferred to the
U.S. Maritime Commission for disposal on6 May 1947 , she was sold and converted for merchant service, in which capacity she operated from 1948 until destroyed by fire offPuerto Rico on27 May 1954 .Honors and awards
"Bitterbush" was awarded one
battle star for her World War II service.See also
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United States Navy
*World War II References
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* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/18/18039.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - YN-58 Almond / Bitterbush - AN-39 Bitterbush]
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