USS Teaberry (AN-34)

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Career (USA)
Name:	USS Teaberry
Namesake:	Any of several American evergreen plants which bear white, bell-shaped flowers and spicy red berries
Builder:	John H. Mathis & Company, Camden, New Jersey
Laid down:	25 October 1940 as YN-29
Launched:	24 May 1941
Sponsored by:	Miss Mary C. Howard
Commissioned:	as USS Teaberry (YN-29), date unknown
Recommissioned:	19 April 1952
Decommissioned:	14 December 1946, at Astoria, Oregon, and on 7 July 1961
In service:	16 March 1942 as Teaberry (YN-29)
Reclassified:	AN-34, 20 January 1944
Struck:	1 August 1961
Homeport:	San Francisco, California
Honors and awards:	one battle star for World War II service
Fate:	sold 12 January 1962 for scrapping
General characteristics
Type:	Aloe-class net laying ship
Tonnage:	560 tons
Displacement:	850 tons
Length:	163' 2"
Beam:	30' 6"
Draft:	11' 8"
Propulsion:	diesel engine, single propeller
Speed:	12.5 knots
Complement:	48 officers and enlisted
Armament:	one single 3"/50 gun mount, two 20mm guns

USS Teaberry (AN-34/YN-29) was an Aloe-class net laying ship which was assigned to serve the U.S. Pacific Fleet during World War II with her protective anti-submarine nets and, at war’s end, returned home safety with one battle star to her credit. She was later reactivated for duty during the Korean War era.

Built in Camden, New Jersey

Teaberry (YN-29) was laid down on 25 October 1940 by John H. Mathis & Company, Camden, New Jersey; launched on 24 May 1941; sponsored by Miss Mary C. Howard; and placed in service on 16 March 1942.

World War II service

Teaberry operated in the 1st Naval District out of Boston, Massachusetts, until February 1943 when she shifted to the 7th Naval District at Miami, Florida. Late in March, she was ordered to Trinidad and operated from there until 8 March 1944 when she steamed to Charleston, South Carolina, to prepare for service in the South Pacific Ocean.

In May, Teaberry sailed for New Guinea via Miami, Florida, Guantanamo Bay, the Panama Canal, Bora Bora, and New Caledonia. Upon arrival at Milne Bay on 22 July, she provided services to units of the U.S. 7th Fleet and operated out of that port, Langemak, and Hollandia, until ordered to the Philippine Islands early in 1945. The net layer served there until 4 June 1946 when she headed for Hawaii.

Teaberry arrived at Pearl Harbor on 9 July and, on the 14th, proceeded to the U.S. West Coast. The ship was at San Francisco, California, from 24 July to 9 October when she was assigned to the 19th Reserve Fleet at Astoria, Oregon. She was placed out of commission, in reserve, on 14 December 1946.

Recommissioned during the Korean War

Teaberry was recommissioned at Astoria, Oregon, on 19 April 1952 and assigned to the 12th Naval District with San Francisco designated as her home port. She arrived there on 13 May and served in the 12th Naval District until July 1961, rendering such services to the fleet as: training students in net and boom defense techniques; working with the Research and Development Division of the Naval Net Depot, Tiburon, California; and participating in mine planting and recovery exercises.

By August 1953, the ship had been equipped as a "diving-type vessel;" and she assisted the Submarine Force, United States Pacific Fleet, in submarine rescue, surface and aerial torpedo recovery, and submarine communications.

Final decommissioning

Teaberry was again decommissioned on 7 July 1961 and struck from the Navy list on 1 August 1961. On 12 January 1962, Teaberry was sold to the Pacific Towboat and Salvage Co., for scrap.

Honors and awards

Teaberry earned one battle star (for Leyte operation) during World War II.

References

• This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - USS Teaberry (AN-34) – ex USS Teaberry (YN-29) - Teaberry (YN-29)