- USS Larch (AN-21)
USS "Larch" (AN-21/YN-16) was an "Aloe"-class
net laying ship which was assigned to serve theU.S. Navy duringWorld War II with her protective anti-submarine nets.Built in West Virginia
"Larch" (YN-16) was laid down
18 October 1940 by Marietta Manufacturing Company,Point Pleasant, West Virginia ; launched2 July 1941 ; and placed in service13 December 1941 , Lt. C. B. Coale,USNR , in command.World War II service
After shakedown, "Larch" was assigned to the
3d Naval District , and operated onantisubmarine warfare (ASW) patrol out ofNew York harbor . DepartingNew York City 12 April 1942 , the net tender arrivedTrinidad , 2 weeks later for patrol and net laying operations in theWest Indies . "Larch" was placed in full commission at Trinidad13 December 1942 Lt. C. C. Dilcer in command and was reclassified "AN-21" on20 January 1944 . Playing a small but vital role, she laid, maintained, and removed anti-torpedo and antisubmarine nets in the West Indies throughout World War II. On10 January 1945 , "Larch" helped salvage aPan American Clipper which had crashed in theGulf of Paria ,Venezuela , recovering six bodies and the planefuselage .Post-war decommissioning
Departing Trinidad
25 September , "Larch" steamed towardNorfolk, Virginia , arriving there12 October . She operated out of Norfolk until she decommissioned there28 June 1946 . She was struck from theNavy list 5 March 1947 , and transferred toTurkey under theMilitary Assistance Program 10 May 1948 . She served theTurkish Navy as "AG-4 (P-304").See also
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United States Navy
*World War II References
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* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/18/18021.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - YN-16 / AN-21 Larch]
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