USS Yew

USS Yew (YN-32/AN-37) was an Aloe-class net laying ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was later transferred to the French Navy as Scorpion (A728). She was sold to Malaysian owners but sank while under tow from the former French ship Locuste (A765) when that ship struck a reef off Cikobia Island, Fiji, on 30 July 1978 and also sank.

History
United States
NameUSS Yew (YN-32)
NamesakeYew tree
BuilderJohn H. Mathis & Company, Camden, New Jersey
Laid down22 May 1941
Launched4 October 1941
Sponsored byMiss Alice E. Morgan
In service1 July 1942
ReclassifiedAN-37, 1 January 1944
Commissioned1 January 1944
Decommissioned30 November 1944, Oran, Algeria
FateTransferred to the French Navy, 30 November 1944
Stricken28 April 1949
History
France
NameScorpion (A728)
Acquired30 November 1944
FateSold to Malaysian owners; struck a reef off Cikobia Island, Fiji, 30 July 1978, while under tow from the former Locuste; both ships sunk
General characteristics
Class and typeAloe-class net laying ship
Displacement
  • 560 long tons (570 t), light
  • 850 long tons (860 t), full
Length163 ft 2 in (49.73 m)
Beam30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)
Draft11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)
Propulsiondirect drive diesel, single propeller
Speed12.5 knots (23.2 km/h)
Complement48 officers and enlisted
Armament

Career

Yew (YN-37) was laid down on 22 May 1941 at Camden, New Jersey, by John H. Mathis & Company; launched on 4 October 1941; sponsored by Miss Alice E. Morgan, daughter of Comdr. A. L. Morgan, USN (Ret.); and placed in service on 1 July 1942.

Records for Yew's service are practically nonexistent. The fragmentary evidence available shows that the ship was reclassified AN-37 on 1 January 1944. The net tender was ultimately decommissioned at Oran, Algeria, on 30 November 1944 and simultaneously transferred to the French Navy under lend-lease.

She served as Scorpion (A728) until she was nominally returned by the French on 21 March 1949 but was sold outright to the French on the same day. Her American name, Yew, was struck from the Navy List on 28 April 1949.

Scorpion served the French Navy into the mid-1970s before she was sunk at Cikobia Island, Fiji, 30 July 1978.

References

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