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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Papaya (AN-49)
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USS Papaya (YN-68) (1943 - 1944)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Foxtrot - Lima
NYFL
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal


Ailanthus Class Net Laying Ship:
  • Laid down, as Yard Net Tender Papaya (YN-68), 2 November 1942, at Pollack Stockton Shipbuilding Co., Stockton, CA.
  • Launched, 23 May 1943
  • Commissioned, USS Papaya (YN-68), 1 December 1943, LCDR. Elias Johnson USNR in command
  • Reclassified Net Laying Ship (AN-49), 20 January 1944
  • During World War II Papaya was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 1 to 10 August 1944
    Tinian capture and occupation, 6 to 15 August 1944

  • Decommissioned, 31 January 1946, at Terminal Island, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 25 February 1946
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • USS Papaya earned two battle stars for World War II service.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,460 t.(fl)
    Length 194' 6"
    Beam 37'
    Draft 13' 6"
    Speed 12.1 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 4
    Enlisted 52
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Largest Boom Capacity 12 t.
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel 760 Bbls
    Ship's Service Generators
    two Diesel-drive 60Kw 120V D.C.
    Propulsion
    two Busch-Sulzer BS-539 Diesel-electric engines
    single propeller, 1,200shp

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    USS Papaya (YN-68 / AN-49)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Johnson, Elias, USNR1 December 1943 - 15 December 1944
    02LT. Mellum, Richard William, USNR15 December 1944 - 12 December 1945
    03LTjg. Grubb, Willard Young, USNR12 December 1945 - 31 January 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 16 September 2016