Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Spicewood (AN-53)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Delta - Whiskey
 NCDW
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Ailanthus Class Net Laying Ship:
  • Laid down, 25 May 1943, as (YN-72) at Pollock-Stockton Shipbuilding Co., Stockton, CA.
  • Redesignated a Net Laying Ship (AN-53), 20 January 1944
  • Launch, 6 December 1943
  • Commissioned USS Spicewood (AN-53), 7 April 1944, at Stockton, CA., LCDR. Max A. Morrison USNR in command
  • During World War II USS Spicewood was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 26 March to 30 June 1945
  • Decommissioned, 20 February 1946, at San Pedro, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 12 March 1946
  • Sold to Van Camp Seafood Co., Terminal Island, CA.
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • USS Spicewood (AN-53) earned one battle star 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
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Spicewood 159k USS Spicewood (AN-53) under way, date and location unknown. Photo from the collection of Tracy White
    USS Spicewood (AN-53)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Morrison, Max Albert, USNR7 April 1944 - 11 October 1944
    02LT. Alexander, Charles S., USNR11 October 1944 - 29 November 1945
    03LCDR. Susi, Roosevelt Theodore, USNR29 November 1945 - 20 February 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    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
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 23 September 2016