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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Winterberry (AN-56)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Juliet - Juliet
 NCJJ
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 (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Ailanthus Class Net Laying Ship:
  • Laid down, 17 September 1943, as Tupelo (YN-75) at Pollock-Stockton Shipbuilding Co., Stockton, CA.
  • Redesignated a Net Laying Ship (AN-56), 20 January 1944
  • Launch, 22 March 1944
  • Commissioned USS Winterberry (AN-56), 30 May 1944, LT. Sheldon E. Aarens USNR in command
  • During World War II USS Winterberry was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 26 April to 30 June1945

  • Following World War II USS Winterberry was assigned to Occupation service from 2 September to 24 October 1945
  • Decommissioned, 15 February 1946, at San Diego, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 26 February 1946
  • USS Winterberry (AN-56) earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Sold, 31 March 1947, to Joe Medina Enterprises, San Diego, CA.
  • Registered in 1949 by Robert A. Martinolich, San Francisco, as fishing boat Trojan
  • Registered in 1950 by Anthony C. Martinolich, Miami, FL. as fishing boat Atlantic Reefer
  • Operated in 1951 under the Liberian flag
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    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
    Winterberry 240k USS Winterberry (AN-56) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from the collections of the US Navy Memorial.    		 Stan Svec
    Winterberry 257k USS Winterberry (AN-56) under way, date and location unknown. Russell Puckett for his father Delmer Puckett SF1/c USS Winterberry
    Winterberry 379k USS Winterberry (AN-56) serving nets, date and location unknown. Russell Puckett for his father Delmer Puckett SF1/c USS Winterberry
    Winterberry 167k USS Winterberry (AN-56) partial crew photo, date and location unknown.
    SF3/c Delmer Puckett front row far left.    		 Russell Puckett for his father Delmer Puckett SF1/c USS Winterberry
    Winterberry 283k View of USS Winterberry (AN-56) bridge wing showing action against Japanese forces. Russell Puckett for his father Delmer Puckett SF1/c USS Winterberry
    Winterberry 397k USS Winterberry (AN-56) bridge, date and location unknown. Russell Puckett for his father Delmer Puckett SF1/c USS Winterberry
    Winterberry 86k USS Winterberry (AN-56) partial crew photos, date and location unknown. Russell Puckett for his father Delmer Puckett SF1/c USS Winterberry
    Winterberry 227k
    USS Winterberry (AN-56)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Aarens, Sheldon Edward, USNR30 May 1944 - 14 March 1945
    02CDR. Holm, Carl H., USNR (temporary)14 March 1945 - 19 March 1945
    03LT. Aarens, Sheldon Edward, USNR19 March 1945 - 13 August 1945
    04LT. Burns, James Arthur, USNR13 August 1945 - 29 November 1945
    05LT. Andrews, Quentin E., USNR29 November 1945 - 15 February 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Net Tender Stories
    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 and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 5 January 2024