USS Chestnut (AN-11/YN-6) was an Aloe-class net laying ship which was assigned to serve the U.S. Navy during World War II with her protective anti-submarine nets.

History
United States
NameUSS Chestnut
NamesakeA tree of the beech family
BuilderCommercial Iron Works, Portland, Oregon
Laid downas YN-6, date unknown
Launched16 March 1941
Sponsored byMrs. W. E. Meagher
Commissioned24 June 1942 as USS Chestnut (AN-11)
Decommissioned7 September 1946 at Bremerton, Washington
In service26 July 1941 as Chestnut (YN-6)
ReclassifiedAN-11, 24 June 1942
Strickendate unknown
HomeportTiburon, California
FatePlaced out of commission, in reserve 7 September 1946 at Bremerton, Washington; fate unknown
General characteristics
TypeAloe-class net laying ship
Tonnage660 tons
Displacement850 tons
Length163 ft 2 in (49.73 m)
Beam30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)
Draft11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)
Propulsiondiesel engine, single propeller
Speed12 knots
Complement48 officers and enlisted
Armamentone single 3 in (76 mm) gun mount, three 20 mm guns, four 0.5 in (12.7 mm). machine guns, one y-gun

Built in Portland, Oregon

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Chestnut (YN-6) was launched 15 March 1941 by Commercial Iron Works, Portland, Oregon; sponsored by Mrs. W. E. Meagher, and placed in service 25 July 1941.

World War II service

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Attached to the 11th Naval District, Chestnut tended nets and gave other harbor services at San Diego, California, until 24 June 1942. On 25 May 1942 she was placed in full commission.

Steaming by way of Hawaii and Samoa, Chestnut arrived at Efate, New Hebrides, 26 February 1943. She tended nets there and at Nouméa until 5 December 1943, except for an overhaul at Dunedin, New Zealand. Chestnut arrived in the Solomon Islands 13 December and until 29 August 1944 had cargo, salvage and net repair duty in those islands. She was redesignated AN-11, 20 January 1944.

From 3 September to 10 October 1944 Chestnut dismantled and removed the net line in Havannah Harbor, Efate, and after repairs in Australia, returned to Nouméa until 3 January 1945. Chestnut then moved to Ulithi for net and mooring operations. Except for brief duty at the seaplane base at Kossol Roads, Palau in April, she remained at Ulithi until 19 June when she departed for Guam, arriving two days later.

Post-war inactivation

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She had duty there until 14 September when she cleared for the U.S. West Coast, arriving at San Pedro, Los Angeles, 13 October. Chestnut was placed out of commission in reserve 7 September 1946 at Bremerton, Washington.

References

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