Aloe-class net laying ship
The Aloe-class net laying ships were a class of thirty-two steel-hulled net laying ships built prior to the US entry into World War II. The lead ship, USS Aloe, was laid down in October 1940 and launched the following January; the final member, USS Yew, was launched in October 1941. They were assigned tree and plant names in alphabetical order, but eight ships (in order Cottonwood, Dogwood, Fir, Juniper, Maple, Poplar, Sycamore, and Walnut) were renamed prior to launching, producing discontinuities in the name order. These ships were originally classed as YN and numbered 1-32, but were reclassified and renumbered in 1944 as AN-6 through AN-37.
 USS Ash showing unique bow appliances of this class | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Aloe class |
| Operators: | |
| General characteristics | |
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These ships had a unique appearance with a pair of "horns" jutting out from either side of the bow, each functioning as a fixed crane with a capacity of 22 short tons (20 t). They were powered by a pair of diesel engines which provided electricity for both propulsion and lifting machinery; there were also two auxiliary diesels and an evaporator for fresh water. Between the "horns" was an opening through which nets could be hauled, bridged by a catwalk.
All members of this class survived the war though USS Mahogany was caught in a typhoon in September 1945 and decommissioned the following year. Three ships were transferred to the French Navy in 1944 and another three were so transferred in the 1960s; two others went to the Turkish and Ecuadorian navies respectively. Three others were retained for various purposes, while the remainder were put into the reserve fleet shortly after the war.
Class members
| Name | Hull number | Original number | Launched | Decommissioned | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aloe | AN-6 | YN-1 | 11 January 1941 | 3 August 1946 | sold for scrap |
| Ash | AN-7 | YN-2 | 15 February 1941 | 13 December 1946 | sold for scrap |
| Boxwood | AN-8 | YN-3 | 8 March 1941 | 13 November 1946 | reserve fleet; fate uncertain |
| Butternut | AN-9 | YN-4 | 10 May 1941 | 18 July 1969 | used for test range support 1957–69; reclassed YAG-60 1969; sunk as target |
| Catalpa | AN-10 | YN-5 | 22 February 1941 | 21 October 1946/ 7 October 1955 | unknown |
| Chestnut | AN-11 | YN-6 | 16 March 1941 | 7 September 1946 | reserve fleet; fate uncertain |
| Cinchona | YN-7 | 2 July 1941 | 6 November 1946 | reserve fleet; fate uncertain | |
| Buckeye | AN-13 | YN-8 | 26 July 1941 | March 1947 | reserve fleet; fate uncertain |
| Buckthorn | AN-14 | YN-9 | 27 March 1941 | 20 August 1947 | reserve fleet; scrapped 1976 |
| Ebony | AN-15 | YN-10 | 3 June 1941 | 23 March 1946 | reserve fleet; scrapped 1976 |
| Eucalyptus | AN-16 | YN-11 | 3 July 1941 | 6 March 1946 | reserve fleet; scrapped 1976 |
| Chinquapin | AN-17 | YN-12 | 15 July 1941 | 6 March 1946 | reserve fleet; scrapped 1976 |
| Gum Tree | AN-18 | YN-13 | 20 March 1941 | 20 June 1946 | reserve fleet; fate uncertain |
| Holly | AN-19 | YN-14 | 17 April 1941 | 7 June 1946 | reserve fleet; fate uncertain |
| Elder | AN-20 | YN-15 | 19 June 1941 | 18 December 1959 | unknown |
| Larch | AN-21 | YN-16 | 2 July 1941 | 28 June 1946 | transferred to Turkish Navy 1948 |
| Locust | AN-22 | YN-17 | 1 February 1941 | 8 July 1946 | transferred to French Navy; sank July 1978 |
| Mahogany | AN-23 | YN-18 | 18 February 1941 | September 1945 | damaged in Typhoon Ida; scrapped |
| Mango | AN-24 | YN-19 | 22 February 1941 | 4 April 1947 | reserve fleet; fate uncertain |
| Hackberry | AN-25 | YN-20 | 28 October 1941 | 12 November 1944 | transferred to French Navy as Araignée (A727) ; scrapped 1985 |
| Mimosa | AN-26 | YN-21 | 15 March 1941 | 27 December 1946 | reserve fleet; fate uncertain |
| Mulberry | AN-27 | YN-22 | 26 March 1941 | 11 April 1960 | transferred to Ecuadorian Navy 1965; scrapped 1980 |
| Palm | AN-28 | YN-23 | 1 February 1941 | 1 January 1947 | reserve fleet; fate uncertain |
| Hazel | AN-29 | YN-24 | 15 February 1941 | 11 February 1958 | reserve fleet; struck 1962 |
| Redwood | AN-30 | YN-25 | 22 February 1941 | 6 June 1947 | reserve fleet; fate uncertain |
| Rosewood | AN-31 | YN-26 | 1 March 1941 | 10 June 1946 | reserve fleet; transferred to French Navy 1969; sunk as target 1983 |
| Sandalwood | AN-32 | YN-27 | 6 March 1941 | 13 August 1946 | reserve fleet; transferred to French Navy 1967; sold, fate unknown |
| Nutmeg | AN-33 | YN-28 | 13 March 1941 | January 1947 | reserve fleet; sold 1971; fate unknown |
| Teaberry | AN-34 | YN-29 | 24 May 1941 | 14 December 1946/ 7 July 1961 | recommissioned 19 April 1953 for auxiliary service; sold 1962 for scrapping |
| Teak | AN-35 | YN-30 | 7 July 1941 | 30 August 1946 | reserve fleet; sold for scrap 1976 |
| Pepperwood | AN-36 | YN-31 | 25 August 1941 | 15 December 1944 | transferred to French Navy; struck 1972 |
| Yew | AN-37 | YN-32 | 4 October 1941 | 1 January 1944 | transferred to French Navy; sank 1978 |