- USS Shellbark (AN-67)
USS "Shellbark" (AN-67/YN-91) was a "Ailanthus"-class
net laying ship which was assigned to protectU.S. Navy ships and harbors duringWorld War II with her anti-submarine nets.Constructed in Slidell, Louisiana
"Shellbark" (AN-67) was laid down on
15 September 1943 by the Canulette Shipbuilding Co. Inc.,Slidell, Louisiana , as "YN-91"; launched on31 October 1943 ; redesignated as "AN-67" on20 January 1944 ; and commissioned on12 April .World War II service
"Shellbark" sailed to
Newport, Rhode Island , on the 30th to begin her shakedown cruise. Upon completion, she was in theBoston Navy Yard from 24 to31 May .She reported to the
1st Naval District for duty on1 June . "Shellbark" was then assigned to theU.S. Atlantic Fleet for temporary duty with theU.S. 12th Fleet . The net layer arrived inBelfast ,Northern Ireland , on20 July and operated in English waters until she departedPlymouth, England , on6 November . "Shellbark" returned toNorfolk, Virginia , on21 November 1944 and operated from there until departing on20 February 1945 forSan Francisco, California , via thePanama Canal Zone andSan Diego, California . She stood out of San Francisco on27 April en route toPearl Harbor , arriving there on7 May . She sailed from there 20 days later forEniwetok ,Guam ,Saipan , andOkinawa . "Shellbark" operated in the Okinawa area from13 July to20 September . On the 22d, she moved into Japanese home waters aroundHonshu , operating fromKobe andWakayama , until1 February 1946 . On that date, she sailed forShanghai . She arrived on17 March and began preparations for decommissioning.Post-war inactivation
"Shellbark" was decommissioned on
19 April and sold toChina the next day. She was struck from theNavy list on1 May 1946 .See also
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United States Navy
*World War II References
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* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/18/18067.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - YN-91 / AN-67 Shellbark]
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