USS Buckeye (AN-13)

USS "Buckeye" (AN-13/YN-8) 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 Portland, Oregon

"Buckeye" (YN-8) was laid down on 17 March 1941 at Portland, Oregon, by the Commercial Iron Works; launched on 26 July 1941; sponsored by Miss Sara Ann Tefler; and placed in service on 5 September 1941, Lt. Elias Johnson, USNR, in charge.

World War II service

North Pacific operations

After fitting out at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, "Buckeye" began duty in the 13th Naval District. She tended nets there until the fall of 1942. At that time, the ship was transferred to the Alaska Sector based at Dutch Harbor.

While stationed there, she was placed in full commission on 26 December 1942, Lt. Comdr. Elias Johnson, USNR, in command. She continued to tend nets and buoys in the Aleutian Islands, first at Dutch Harbor and, after May of 1943, at recently captured Attu. On 1 January 1944, "Buckeye" was redesignated "AN 13". During the summer of 1944, the net layer received orders to Seattle, Washington, for an overhaul that she completed between 24 July and 11 September.

West Pacific operations

Following a round-trip voyage from the U.S. West Coast to Hawaii and back, "Buckeye" was stationed at the Naval Net Depot at Tiburon, California, near San Francisco, California, as ready duty ship and standby vessel for emergency repairs. That duty lasted until 27 January 1945 when she was transferred to Service Squadron (ServRon) 6 of the U.S. 7th Fleet.

During February and March, the net layer stopped at Pearl Harbor, Funafuti in the Ellice Islands, Manus in the Admiralty Islands, and Hollandia on New Guinea before arriving in the Philippines in April. Initially, she served in Leyte Gulf but, later that summer moved to Luzon where she operated in Manila Bay and Subic Bay.

Post-war activity

"Buckeye" spent the remainder of her active career at Luzon. On 17 July 1946, the ship went aground in Subic Bay. With the assistance of "Elder" (AN-20), she was refloated on 29 July and was towed to Alava Dock for repairs.

Post-war inactivation

She was still undergoing repairs at the end of 1946 and, apparently, they were never completed. She went out of commission at Subic on 4 March 1947. Later transferred to the Pacific Reserve Fleet group berthed at San Diego, California, she remained there until 1963 when she was turned over to the U.S. Maritime Administration for lay up in Suisun Bay, California

Her name was struck from the Navy list on 1 July 1963. She remained at the Suisun Bay facility until 5 May 1976 at which time she was reacquired by the Navy for use as a salvage training hulk. Her status was unknown.

See also

* United States Navy
* World War II

References

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* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/18/18013.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - YN-8 Cottonwood / Buckeye - AN-13 Buckeye]