USS ''Suncook'' (YN-99/AN-80) was a which was assigned to protect United States 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. Her World War II career was short lived; however, after decommissioning, she was reactivated in 1962 for use as a

research ship A research vessel (RV or R/V) is a ship or boat designed, modified, or equipped to carry out research at sea. Research vessels carry out a number of roles. Some of these roles can be combined into a single vessel but others require a dedicated ...

for the U.S. Bureau of Mines, where she served as ''Grass Valley''.

Construction and career

''Suncook'' was laid down at Portland, Oregon on 30 November 1944 by the Commercial Iron Works. The ship was launched on 16 February 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Laura B. Stephenson. ''Suncook'' was commissioned on 5 May 1945.

World War II service

''Suncook'' conducted

shakedown Shakedown may refer to: * Shakedown (continuum mechanics), a type of plastic deformation * Shakedown (testing) or a shakedown cruise, a period of testing undergone by a ship, airplane or other craft before being declared operational * Extortion, ...

and training off the California coast until 8 July, when she departed for Pearl Harbor. From there, she was routed on to

Eniwetok Atoll Enewetak Atoll (; also spelled Eniwetok Atoll or sometimes Eniewetok; mh, Ānewetak, , or , ; known to the Japanese as Brown Atoll or Brown Island; ja, ブラウン環礁) is a large coral atoll of 40 islands in the Pacific Ocean and with it ...

in the central Pacific Ocean. She arrived at the anchorage on 1 August, just two weeks before the cessation of hostilities. There she tended nets for the next seven months, making one round-trip voyage to

Ponape Ponape may refer to: * Pohnpei, an island in the Federated States of Micronesia * ''Ponape'' (barque), a German sailing ship {{disambiguation ...

and back in December 1945.

Post-war service

In March 1946, she sailed to Guam in company with and after two weeks there, continued on to Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, where she arrived on 30 March. ''Suncook'' remained in the vicinity of Bikini and Kwajalein Atolls until September, supporting the atomic bomb tests known as Operation Crossroads. On 2 September, she cleared the area and sailed via Pearl Harbor to the U.S. West Coast. She reached Seattle, Washington, on 30 September and remained there until June of the following year, undergoing radiological clearance.

Post-USN service and disposition

In January 1947, she was placed in reserve, but remained in commission. On 10 June, she departed Seattle, and arrived, two days later, in

Astoria, Oregon Astoria is a port city and the seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1811, Astoria is the oldest city in the state and was the first permanent American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. The county is the northwest corne ...

, where she was placed out of commission. She remained with the "mothball" fleet until August 1961, when custody was transferred to the

U.S. Maritime Administration The United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation. MARAD administers financial programs to develop, promote, and operate the U.S. Maritime Service and the U.S. Merchant Marine. De ...

. In September 1962, she was again transferred, this time to the U.S. Bureau of Mines for use as a

at the Marine Mineral Technology Center at Tiburon, California.

Re-named ''Grass Valley''

Her name was struck from the Navy List on 1 September 1962 and she became the research vessel, ''Grass Valley''. She served under that name until returned to the Navy for disposal on 18 June 1968. On 28 July 1971, her hulk was sold to the Waterman Supply Co., Wilmington, California.

References

*
NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - YN-99 / AN-80 Suncook
{{DEFAULTSORT:Suncook Cohoes-class net laying ships Ships built in Portland, Oregon 1945 ships World War II net laying ships of the United States Research vessels of the United States