In addition to the winches, required in Net Tending duties, there was also a large boom located on the forward deck. See Figure 5 Page 10. This was used for loading cargo and net gear on to the ship from a dock, or sometimes from a barge. It was also used to load and unload cargo to and from the forward and lower holds of the ship.
The armament on Net Tenders consisted of a 3 inch gun and 2 twenty millimeter guns. Sometimes extra guns were added. During the invasion of Okinawa some or all of these ships were given a bazooka and several 30 caliber deck guns, to be used against any possible attack by Japanese suicide boats.
A typical wooden Net Tender crew had 4 officers and about 54 crew members. The smaller steel vessels had about 45 crew members.
Being these were work ships about 39% of the crew were on the deck force.
The following is taken from a March 1945 Wooden Net Tender roster:
No. of Men:         Assignment:
21                        Deck Crew (3 Boatswain, 2 Coxswain, 16 Seamen)
11                        Engine Room (5 Motor Machinests, 2 Firemen 4 Electricians)
1                          Yeomen (Office Clerk)
2                          Radarmen
3                          Officers & Crew Cooks
2                          Mess Cooks (Kitchen & Galley Helpers)
3                          Gunners Mates
3                          Radiomen
1                          Radio Technician
3                          Carpenter Mates or Shipfitters
2                          Quartermasters
1                          Signalman (Quartermasters also Signalmen)
1                          Pharmacist mate
54    TOTAL
NOTE: Net Tenders required at least 1 qualified diver,. On the above roster 1 Boatswains Mate and 1 Seamen were qualified.

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