USS Papaya

History
United States
Name	USS Papaya
Namesake	a fruit-bearing tree found in tropical America
Builder	Pollock-Stockton Shipbuilding Company, Stockton, California
Laid down	2 November 1942 as Papaya (YN-68)
Launched	23 May 1943
Sponsored by	Mrs. L. L. Lindley
Commissioned	1 December 1943 as USS Papaya (YN-68)
Decommissioned	31 January 1946, at Terminal Island, California
Reclassified	AN-49, 20 January 1944
Stricken	25 February 1946
Honours and awards	two battle stars for World War II service
Fate	fate unknown
General characteristics
Class and type	Ailanthus-class net laying ship
Tonnage	1,100 tons
Displacement	1,275 tons
Length	194 ft 7 in (59.31 m)
Beam	37 ft (11 m)
Draft	13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
Propulsion	diesel electric, 2,500hp
Speed	12 knots
Complement	56 officers and enlisted
Armament	one single 3 in (76 mm) gun mount, four twin 20 mm gun mounts

USS Papaya (AN-49/YN-68) was an Ailanthus-class net laying ship which served with the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific Ocean theatre of operations during World War II. Her career was without major incident, and she returned home after the war bearing two battle stars to her credit.

Papaya (YN–68) was laid down by the Pollock-Stockton Shipbuilding Company, Stockton, California, 2 November 1942; launched 23 May 1943; sponsored by Mrs. L. L. Lindley; commissioned 1 December 1943. She was reclassified AN–49 on 20 January 1944.

Following shakedown, Papaya joined ServRon 10 for duty in the Pacific Ocean and proceeded via Pearl Harbor to the Marshall Islands where she arrived 8 March 1944. After laying moorings and channel buoys and installing anti-torpedo nets in the Marshalls group, she departed for the Mariana Islands, arriving Saipan 1 August. She assisted in net operations while fighting on the beach was still in process, helping capture both Saipan and Tinian.

After returning to Long Beach, California, 18 December for overhaul and alterations, she deployed to the Western Pacific again 22 May 1945, this time to Ulithi, Caroline Islands, for important net operations.

Following the surrender of Japan, Papaya actively participated in the surrender and occupation of Yap and undertook several search missions to islands and atolls east of Ulithi capturing 26 Japanese soldiers. She departed 17 October for the United States via Saipan and Pearl Harbor and arrived San Diego, California, 26 November.

Surplus to the Navy’s needs after World War II, Papaya decommissioned at Terminal Island, California, 31 January 1946 and was stricken from the Naval Register 25 February.

Papaya received two battle stars for service in World War II.

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - YN-68 / AN-49 Papaya