USS Cohoes (AN-78)

USS "Cohoes" (YN-97/AN-78/ANL-78) was a "Cohoes"-class net laying ship which was assigned to protect U.S. Navy ships and harbors during World War II with her anti-submarine nets. Her World War II career was short lived; however, she was recommissioned during the Vietnam conflict where she earned nine campaign stars.

Constructed in Oregon

The second ship to be so named by the Navy, "Cohoes" (AN-78) was launched 29 November 1944 by Commercial Iron Works, Portland, Oregon; sponsored by Mrs. W. W. Johnson; commissioned 23 March 1945, Lieutenant D. B. Little, USNR, in command; and reported to the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

World War II service

After training at Pearl Harbor, "Cohoes" sailed 20 June 1945 for Eniwetok, arriving 2 July. She remained at Eniwetok installing, maintaining, and then removing the net line there until 16 October, when she sailed for Ponape, arriving 18 October to lay a mooring.

In Langar Roads, she salvaged and re-laid a Japanese mooring buoy, and performed similar operations in the Caroline Islands and in the Marshall Islands until 20 November, when she cleared Kwajalein for Pearl Harbor and San Francisco, California, arriving 12 December for duty at Tiburon Net Depot at Tiburon, California.

Post-war activity

Cohoes served at Tiburon until 8 April 1946, when she sailed for duty at Astoria, Oregon. She returned to San Francisco 3 September, and remained there until 25 August 1947 when she sailed for San Diego, California, arriving 27 August.

Post-war inactivation

There "Cohoes" was placed out of commission in reserve 3 September 1947.

Vietnam War service

"Cohoes" was re-commissioned in 1968 and served in Vietnam. The Navy journal (DANFS) is not complete at this date, but other sources indicate that "Cohoes" was active in the Vietnam area based on the numerous campaign stars she was awarded:
* Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
* Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI
* Tet69/Counteroffensive - Phase V
* Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
* Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
* Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
* Consolidation I
* Consolidation II
* Vietnam Ceasefire

Final inactivation

"Cohoes" was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 30 June 1972.

See also

* United States Navy
* World War II

References

*
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/18/18078.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - YN-97 / AN-78 / ANL-78 Cohoes]