Net laying ship

Net laying ship
General characteristics (US Navy netlayers)
Displacement: 560 tons, 700 tons laden
Length: 151 ft. 8 in.
Beam: 30 ft. 6 in.
Draft: 10 ft. 6 in.
Speed: 14 knots
Propulsion: Diesel, single screw
Complement: 40
Armament: 1 x 3"/50 caliber dual purpose gun, 3 x 20mm mounts
AN-52: Ailanthus-class net laying vessel

A net laying ship, also known as a net layer, net tender or boom defence vessel was a type of small auxiliary ship.

A net layer's primary function was to lay and maintain steel anti-torpedo or anti-submarine nets. Nets could be laid around an individual ship at anchor, or around harbors or other anchorages. Net laying was potentially dangerous work, and net laying seamen were experts at dealing with blocks, tackles, knots and splicing. As World War II progressed, net layers were pressed into a variety of additional roles including salvage, troop and cargo transport, buoy maintenance, and service as tugboats.

US Navy

Net layers initially received the hull classification symbol YN (for "Yard Net Tender") but were later reclassified AN (for "Auxiliary Net Layer"). The British Admiralty knew such ships as a “boom defence vessel".

The first 32, all launched in 1940 (before the attack on Pearl Harbor), were built of steel. Due to the chronic shortage of steel during the war, the next 30 were built of wood. The last 15, laid down in 1944 and 1945, were again constructed of steel.

A total of 77 net layers of all classes served with the US Navy during the war. The vessels served in all theatres of war but particularly in the Pacific. Many of the ships were decommissioned after the war, but some continued in service for several more decades. Net layers were eventually made redundant by advances in underwater detection technology.

Net layers have two prominent steel "horns" on the bow, used in laying nets.

References



Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Net (device) — A large bird netting used to keep pigeons from sprouting seeds Bird netting …   Wikipedia

  • Collier (ship) — For other uses, see Collier (disambiguation). The collier USS Merrimac (1898) Collier is a historical term used to describe a bulk cargo ship designed to carry coal, especially for naval use by coal fired warships. In the late 18th century a… …   Wikipedia

  • Amphibious assault ship — Six of the U.S. Navy s assault ships in formation; lead ship and the ship seen to its left are Tarawa class, all others are Wasp class An amphibious assault ship (also referred to as a commando carrier or an amphibious assault carrier) is a type… …   Wikipedia

  • Landing Ship, Tank — A Canadian LST off loads an M4 Sherman during the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943. Landing Ship, Tank (LST) was the military designation for naval vessels created during World War II to support amphibious operations by carrying significant… …   Wikipedia

  • Convoy rescue ship — During the Second World War purpose built convoy rescue ships accompanied some Atlantic convoys to rescue survivors from ships which had been attacked. Rescue ships were typically small freighters with passenger accommodations. Conversion to… …   Wikipedia

  • Landing Ship Medium — were amphibious assault ships of the United States Navy in the World War II. Of comparable size to Landing Ship, Tank and the Landing Craft, Infantry, there were 558 LSM (Landing Ship, Medium) made for the USN between 1944 and 1945. The majority… …   Wikipedia

  • Minesweeper (ship) — US Navy Admirable class minesweeper USS Pivot in the Gulf of Mexico for sea trials on 12 July 1944 A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in… …   Wikipedia

  • Dock landing ship — USS Harpers Ferry, a US Navy Harper s Ferry class dock landing ship. A Dock landing ship or Landing ship (Dock) (hull classification LSD) is a form of amphibious warship designed to support amphibious operations. These amphibious assault ships… …   Wikipedia

  • Combat stores ship — USNS Spica, a combat stores ship. Combat stores ships, or S …   Wikipedia

  • Command ship — Command ships serve as the flagships of the Commander of a fleet. They provide communications, office space, and accommodations for a fleet commander and his staff, and serve to coordinate fleet activities. Currently, the United States Navy… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”