USS Silverbell (AN-51)

History
United States
Name| USS Silverbell (YN-70)
Namesake| Silverbell
Builder| Pollock-Stockton Shipbuilding Company, Stockton, California
Laid down| 7 November 1942
Launched| 19 June 1943
Sponsored by| Mrs. Henry Ohm
Reclassified| AN-51, 20 January 1944
Commissioned| 16 February 1944
Decommissioned| 10 January 1947, Shanghai, China
Stricken| 28 January 1947
Honors and
awards| one battle star for World War II service
Fate| Transferred to Republic of China Maritime Customs Service for use as a buoy and lighthouse tender
General characteristics
Class and type| Ailanthus-class net laying ship
Displacement| 1,275 tons
Length| 194 ft 6 in (59.28 m)
Beam| 34 ft 7 in (10.54 m)
Draft| 11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)
Propulsion| diesel electric, 2,500hp
Speed| 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement| 57 officers and enlisted
Armament| one single 3 in (76 mm) gun mount, four twin 20 mm gun mounts

USS Silverbell (AN-51/YN-70) was an Ailanthus-class net laying ship which served with the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific Ocean theatre of operations during World War II. Her career was without major incident, and she returned home after the war bearing one battle star to her credit.

## Contents

* 1 Launched in California
* 2 World War II support
* 2.1 Pacific Ocean operations
* 3 Post WWII service
* 4 Honors and awards
* 5 References

## Launched in California[edit]

Silverbell (AN-51) was laid down on 7 November 1942 as YN-70 by Pollock-Stockton Shipbuilding Company, Stockton, California, launched on 19 June 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Henry Ohm; redesignated as AN-51 on 20 January 1944; and commissioned on 16 February 1944, Lt. Mark C. Butler, Jr., USNR, in command.

## World War II support[edit]

### Pacific Ocean operations[edit]

Silverbell sailed from San Francisco, California, on 30 March to conduct shakedown training in the San Diego, California, area and returned on 1 April. The next day, she stood out of San Francisco en route to Manus Island, Admiralty Islands. She operated between there and Biak (Netherlands East Indies) until mid-September.

On the 24th, the net layer sailed for Leyte Gulf to support the landings there. She operated between Leyte, Manila, and Subic Bay until 17 November 1945 when she was ordered to return to San Pedro, California, via Pearl Harbor and San Francisco, for disposal.

Silverbell arrived in San Pedro, California, on 9 January 1946 and remained there until 3 July when she sailed for China via Pearl Harbor, Guam, and Subic Bay, Philippine Islands. The net layer remained in the Philippine Islands from 14 September to 22 December when she proceeded to Shanghai, arriving on 29 December 1946.

## Post WWII service[edit]

Silverbell arrived at San Francisco 21 Dec 45 for disposal. On January 10, 1947, she was transferred to the Chinese Maritime Customs for use as a buoy and lighthouse tender. She was ordered to Shanghai in May 1946. She departed Subic Bay en route on Dec 22, 1946. She was decommissioned at Shanghai and turned over to Chinese Maritime Customs via Foreign Liquidation Commission on Jan. 10, 1947. She was struck from the Navy List on January 28, 1947. She escaped to Taiwan during Chinese Civil War and served in the Taiwanese Customs Preventive Service, scrapped 1974.[1]

## Honors and awards[edit]

Silverbell received one battle star for World War II service.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Ailanthus (AN-38) Class". ShipScribe.

* This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
* NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - YN-70 / AN-51 Silverbell

* v
* t
* e

Ailanthus-class net laying ships

United States Navy|

* Ailanthus
* Bitterbush
* Anaqua
* Baretta
* Cliffrose
* Satinleaf
* Corkwood
* Cornel
* Mastic
* Canotia
* Lancewood
* Papaya
* Cinnamon
* Silverbell
* Snowbell
* Spicewood
* Manchineel
* Torchwood
* Winterberry
* Viburnum
* Abele
* Terebinth
* Catclaw
* Chinaberry
* Hoptree
* Whitewood
* Palo Blanco
* Paloverde
* Pinon
* Shellbark
* Silverleaf
* Stagbush
* Allthorn
* Tesota
* Yaupon
* Precept
* Boxelder
* Prefect
* Satinwood
* Seagrape

Royal Navy|

* Precept
* Precise
* Prefect
* Pretext
* Preventer

* List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy

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