USS Chinquapin (YN-12/AN-17) was an Aloe-class net laying ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Originally ordered as USS Fir (YN-2), she was renamed and renumbered to Chinquapin (YN-12) in October 1940 before construction began. She was launched in July 1941, and completed in October 1941. Placed in service at that time without being commissioned, she was commissioned in January 1943, and decommissioned in March 1946. She was placed in reserve at that time and scrapped in 1976.

History
United States
NameUSS Fir (YN-2)
NamesakeFir
RenamedUSS Chinquapin (YN-11), 16 October 1940
NamesakeChinquapin
BuilderGeneral Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Alameda, California
Launched15 July 1941
Sponsored byMrs. J. Lane
In service29 October 1941
Commissioned6 January 1943
ReclassifiedAN-17, 20 January 1944
Decommissioned6 March 1946 at Astoria, Oregon
Stricken1 September 1962
HomeportTiburon, California
Honors and
awards
three battle stars for World War II service
FatePlaced in reserve; scrapped, 1976
General characteristics
Class and typeAloe-class net laying ship
Tonnage560 tons
Displacement700 tons
Length163 ft 2 in (49.73 m)
Beam30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)
Draft11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)
Propulsiondiesel-electric, single screw
Speed12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement48 officers and enlisted
Armamentone single 3 in (76 mm) gun mount, three 20 mm guns, one 40 mm gun mount

Career

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Chinquapin (YN-12) was initially authorized as Fir (YN-2), but renamed in October 1940 before construction began. She was built by the General Engineering & Dry Dock Company of Alameda, California, and launched on 15 July 1941; sponsored by Mrs. J. Lane; and placed in service 29 October 1941. She was commissioned 6 January 1943. Assigned to the 12th Naval District headquartered at the Mare Island in Vallejo, California, Chinquapin conducted net, salvage, and towing operations out of the Tiburon, California, Net Depot until 31 December 1943 when she sailed for Pearl Harbor, arriving 10 January 1944. On 20 January she was redesignated AN-17.

Chinquapin tended nets and laid moorings at Majuro, Kwajalein, and Eniwetok from 15 February 1944 to 27 July, then supported the Marianas occupation by similar operations at Saipan and Guam until 28 October. Returning via Pearl Harbor to San Francisco, California, as a convoy escort, Chinquapin was overhauled, and on 3 February 1945 sailed via Pearl Harbor and Ulithi for Okinawa, arriving 1 May for net, mooring and transport operations there until 30 October.

Chinquapin returned to Astoria, Oregon, on 11 December and was placed out of commission in reserve 6 March 1946. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 September 1962 and placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet. She was sold for scrapping in 1976.

Chinquapin received three battle stars for World War II service.

References

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