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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

YN-58 Almond / Bitterbush
AN-39 Bitterbush

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal (1) - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Ailanthus Class Net Laying Ship
  • laid down, 30 November 1942, as Yard Net Tender Almond (YN-58), at Everett-Pacific Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Everett, WA.
  • Renamed Bitterbush (YN-58), 3 April 1943
  • Launched, 30 June 1943
  • Commissioned USS Bitterbush (YN-58), 15 January 1944, Lt. Harry E. Horrocks, Jr., USNR, in command
  • Reclassified Net Laying Ship (AN-39), 20 January 1944
  • During World War II Bitterbush was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:
  • Decommissioned, 4 January 1946, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.
  • Struck from the naval Register, 21 January 1946
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 6 May 1947, for disposal
  • Sold for commercial service in 1948
  • Final Disposition, destroyed by fire off Puerto Rico, 27 May 1954
  • Bitterbush received one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,100 t.(fl)
    Length 194' 7"
    Beam 34' 7"
    Draft 13' 6"
    Speed 12 kts.
    Complement 56
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    two single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion diesel electric, 2,500hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Bitterbush 65k Bitterbush (AN-39) underway, date and place unknown. Courtesy Glen Paulson ex RM2/c USS Anaqua
    View the Bitterbush (AN-39)
    DANFS history at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 7 April 2006