USS ''Silverleaf'' (AN-68/YN-92) was a which was assigned to protect
U.S. Navy ships and harbors during
World War II with her anti-
submarine
A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...
nets.
Constructed in Slidell, Louisiana
''Silverleaf'' (AN-68) was laid down on 3 February 1943 as ''YN-92'' by Canulette Shipbuilding Co. Inc.,
Slidell, Louisiana; launched on 11 December 1943; redesignated ''AN-68'' on 20 January 1944; and commissioned on 26 May 1944.
World War II service
On 6 June, ''Silverleaf'' sailed for
Melville, Rhode Island
Melville is a census-designated place (CDP) in the New England town, towns of Middletown, Rhode Island, Middletown and Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Portsmouth in Newport County, Rhode Island, Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. It lies along ...
, to hold her
shakedown cruise
Shakedown cruise is a nautical term in which the performance of a ship is tested. Generally, shakedown cruises are performed before a ship enters service or after major changes such as a crew change, repair or overhaul. The shakedown cruise s ...
from 13 to 30 June. She was in the
Boston Navy Yard from 1 July to 29 August for post-shakedown availability.
The net layer moved to New York City and sailed from there on 3 September with a southbound convoy. On the 10th, she was ordered to proceed independently to
San Diego, California, via the
Panama Canal.
''Silverleaf'' arrived at San Diego on 3 October and operated between there and
San Pedro, California, until departing for
Pearl Harbor on 5 December 1944. She remained there until 5 February 1945 when she steamed for
Eniwetok,
Marshall Islands. The tender was then attached to the
U.S. 5th Fleet for the assault and occupation of
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima (, also ), known in Japan as , is one of the Japanese Volcano Islands and lies south of the Bonin Islands. Together with other islands, they form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The highest point of Iwo Jima is Mount Suribachi at high.
...
; remaining there with
Task Force 94 until 10 August. From 13 August until 20 November 1945, ''Silverleaf'' operated from
Guam and
Marcus Island. On the 20th, she sailed for San Pedro, California, via Pearl Harbor, for disposal, arriving on 1 January 1946.
Post-war inactivation
''Silverleaf'' was stripped for sale to the
Republic of China
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...
Government, but the ship was in such poor condition that she was decommissioned on 18 April. She was struck from the Navy list on 5 June 1946 and sold to Joe Medina Enterprises, San Diego, California, on 31 March 1947 for scrap.
Honors and awards
''Silverleaf'' received one
battle star for World War II service.
References
*
NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - YN-92 / AN-68 Silverleaf
{{DEFAULTSORT:Silverleaf
Ailanthus-class net laying ships of the United States Navy
Ships built in Slidell, Louisiana
1943 ships
World War II net laying ships of the United States