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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Pepperwood (AN-36)
ex
 USS Pepperwood (YN-31) (1942 - 1944)
 Pepperwood (YN-31) (1942)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Golf - Hotel
 NWGH
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal

USS Pepperwood (AN-36) was transferred to France, renamed RFS Tarentule (A-729)
Aloe Class Net Laying Ship:
  • Laid down, 25 October 1944, as Yard Net Tender, YN-31, at John H. Mathias Co., Camden, N.J.
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Placed in service as Pepperwood (YN-31), 8 June 1942, at Camden, N.J.
  • Commissioned, USS Pepperwood (YN-31), 15 December 1942, at Norfolk, VA., LT. Charles E. Hall in command
  • During World War II USS Pepperwood was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaign:
    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    North African occupation, 24 April to 31 December 1943
  • Reclassified Net Laying Ship (AN-36), 30 January 1944
  • Decommissioned, 15 December 1944
  • Transferred to the French Navy under Lend Lease, 15 December 1944, renamed RFS Tarentule (A-729)
  • Sold outright to France, 21 March 1948
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 28 April 1949
  • Struck from the French Navy, 14 April 1972
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • USS Pepperwood received one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 560 t.(lt) 850 t.(fl)
    Length 163' 2"
    Beam 30' 6"
    Draft 11' 8"
    Speed 12.5 kts.
    Complement 48
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    two single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion diesel, single propeller
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    RFS Tarentule (A-739)
    Pepperwood 59k Ex-Pepperwood (AN-36) in The Republic of France service RFS Tarentule(A-729) underway, circa 1946, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Pepperwood 52k RFS Tarentule(A-729) underway, date and location unknown. Michel Martin
    Pepperwood 76k RFS Tarentule(A-729) somewhere in Vietnam during the French-Indochina War. André Pilon, RFS Golo
    Pepperwood 107k RFS Tarentule(A-729) at Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia, circa 1965. Robert Hurst
    Pepperwood 73k RFS Tarentule(A-729) at Mururoa Atoll, French Polynesia, circa 1969-70. Robert Hurst
    View the USS Pepperwood (YN-31 / AN-36)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Yard and District Craft Photo Index Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Yard Net Tender (YN) Photo Index Back To Net Laying Ship (AN) Photo Index
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    This page is created by David W. Almond and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 7 November 2008