USS Buckthorn (AN-14)

USS "Buckthorn" (AN-14/YN-9) 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 California

The second ship to be so named by the Navy, "Buckthorn" (YN-9) was laid down on 5 December 1940 at Alameda, California, by the General Engineering & Drydock Co.; launched on 27 March 1941; sponsored by Mrs. Rosalie Benton Day; and placed in service at the Mare Island Navy Yard on 16 September 1941, Lt. Lewis Williams, USNR, in charge.

World War II service

West coast operations

That same day, the ship departed the Mare Island Navy Yard. She arrived at San Pedro, California, on the 20th and reported for duty as a unit of the net defenses and inshore patrol. She spent the next 21 months tending nets and conducting patrols at San Pedro. During that time, on 9 December 1942, "Buckthorn's" status was changed from in service to in commission.

At the end of June 1943, the net tender received orders reassigning her to the 13th Naval District. She departed San Pedro on 14 July 1943 and arrived in Seattle, Washington, on the 21st. On the 22d, the ship entered the Winslow Ship Yards for an overhaul that lasted until 15 August. At that time, "Buckthorn" began tending nets at Manchester, Washington.

Aleutian operations

On 3 September 1943, she got underway from Manchester, bound for duty in Alaskan waters. The ship arrived at Dutch Harbor, Alaska, on the 12th and began service with the net defenses there. At the end of the month, she moved to Adak and, by 5 October, had joined the net defenses at Attu.

Attacked by Japanese bombers

On 13 October, she participated in what appears to be the only combat action of her career when she fired one round of 3-inch and 120 rounds of 20-millimeter at attacking Japanese bombers. She continued her service at Attu until the spring of 1944. During that time, on 1 January 1944, she was reclassified an auxiliary net tender and redesignated "AN-14".

On 24 April 1944, she set sail to join the net defenses at Amchitka Island. Her tour of duty at Amchitka lasted from 25 April to 28 June. On 29 June, "Buckthorn" returned to Adak for almost three months of service. On 23 September, the net tender shaped a course back to Attu where she remained from 25 September to 24 January 1945. She next tended nets at Adak again between 29 January and 16 April. On the latter day, "Buckthorn" headed back to Amchitka where she served during the period 17 April to 5 June. On 5 and 6 June, she made the voyage between Amchitka and Adak, spending the following 10 weeks at the latter island.

Post-war activity

On 18 August, "Buckthorn" departed Adak for Dutch Harbor. Between 20 August and 5 September, she underwent her first overhaul at Dutch Harbor. The ship returned to Adak on 7 September and resumed her duties with the net defenses there. "Buckthorn" continued to serve at various locations in the Aleutians until March 1946.

On 14 March 1946, she arrived in Seattle, Washington, for her second overhaul. The ship entered the Todd Pacific Shipyard on 1 May and emerged again on 16 July. The net tender returned to Alaskan waters at Kodiak on 27 July. She resumed her former duties at the several familiar Aleutian locations until late April 1947. On 23 April, "Buckthorn" received orders heralding her inactivation.

After a leisurely voyage that included lengthy stops at Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, and Seattle, the net tender arrived in San Diego, California, at the end of the first week in August.

Post-war inactivation

On 20 August 1947, "Buckthorn" was decommissioned and berthed with the San Diego Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 1 July 1963, and she was transferred to the U.S. Maritime Administration to be berthed with the Suisun Bay facility of its National Defense Reserve Fleet.

See also

* United States Navy
* World War II

References

*
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/18/18014.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - YN-9 Dogwood / Buckthorn - AN-14 Buckthorn]