USS Holly (AN-19)

USS "Holly" (AN-19/YN-14) 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 West Virginia

The second ship to be so named by the Navy, "Holly" (YN-14) was launched by Marietta Manufacturing Company, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, 17 April 1941; and after the long trip down the Ohio River and the Mississippi River was placed in service at Algiers, Louisiana, 11 October 1941, Ens. R. G. Osburn, Jr., in command.

World War II service

Pacific Ocean operations

The net tender spent the first year of her service at various Gulf and East Coast ports servicing harbor nets. She performed this duty at Key West, Florida; Newport, Rhode Island; and, Boston, Massachusetts. "Holly" commissioned at Boston 15 December 1942, Lt. J. M. C. Tighe in command. "Holly" sailed 24 December 1942 to tend nets in New York harbor and harbors on the island of Jamaica, en route to the Panama Canal Zone where she arrived 19 January 1943. There she continued servicing net defenses until departing in convoy for Bora Bora 19 February. In the months that followed she steamed between Pago Pago, Suva Harbor, Noumea, and Espiritu Santo, working on vital net facilities which helped keep American bases and staging areas secure. "Holly's" classification was changed to "AN-19", 20 January 1944.

Under attack by aircraft

In early 1944, the ship joined LST Flotilla 5 in preparation for the invasion of the Mariana Islands. Arriving Kwajalein 6 June 1944, the ship sailed 3 days later with an LST group for the invasion area. During the preinvasion bombardment and reconnaissance 17 June, the fleet came under heavy air attack. "Holly's" guns assisted in downing several enemy planes; and, when "LCI-468" was damaged in the battle, moved swiftly to take her in tow. With the assault well underway, the net tender proceeded to Eniwetok 25 June, arriving 5 days later.

End-of-war activity

"Holly" resumed her net servicing duties in the South Pacific Ocean during the remainder of the war, returning to San Pedro, California, soon after the surrender of Japan 15 August 1945. After a short voyage to Pearl Harbor to help dismantle net defenses September-October she arrived Bremerton, Washington, 28 October 1945,

Post-war decommissioning

"Holly" was decommissioned at Astoria, Oregon, 7 June 1946. "Holly" remained in the Pacific Reserve Fleet until being stricken 1 September 1962, and transferred to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia, Washington, under U.S. Maritime Administration custody.

Honors and awards

"Holly" received one battle star for World War II service.

See also

* United States Navy
* World War II

References

*
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/18/18019.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - YN-14 / AN-19 Holly]