USS Anaqua ( AN - 40 ) USS " Anaqua " ( AN - 40 / YN - 59 ) was an which served with the United States Navy in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II . She served the U . S . Pacific Fleet with her protective anti - submarine net s , and returned home safely after the war . Built in Washington . " YN - 59 " was laid down on 16 December 1942 at Everett , Washington , by the Everett - Pacific Shipbuilding & Drydock Co . ; launched on 16 August 1943 ; sponsored by Miss Marian Swalwell ; redesignated " AN - 40 " and named " Anaqua " on 20 January 1944 ; and placed in commission on 21 February 1944 . World War II service . Service in the frigid North Pacific . After conducting shakedown training in Puget Sound , the net laying ship got underway for Alaska and reached Dutch Harbor on 20 May . She then began her assignment of tending nets in waters off Alaska and the Aleutian Islands . On 16 October , while the ship was hauling net gear from Cold Bay to Dutch Harbor , she encountered a severe storm with high winds . The damage " Anaqua " sustained was so extensive that she was ordered to return to the United States for availability . The battered vessel arrived at Seattle , Washington , on 20 December and entered drydock at the Lake Washington Shipyard , Kirkland , Washington . Upon completion of the repairs , she got underway on 5 February 1945 for the Naval Net Depot , Tiburon , California . While en route to that port , she encountered a storm off the coast of Oregon . The ship sprung numerous leaks through the main deck and the boat deck . Moreover , several electrical fires broke out and caused considerable damage . Upon her arrival at Tiburon , the ship was sent to the Martinolich Shipyard in San Francisco for repairs to her new damage . Assigned to the western Pacific . On 11 March , " Anaqua " again stood out to sea and arrived back at Tiburon safely and took on a load of amphibious gear before sailing for Pearl Harbor , Hawaii . During her voyage across the eastern Pacific , the ship experienced several steering engine failures . She reached Pearl Harbor on 26 March , unloaded her net gear , and entered a drydock at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard where , in addition to repair of her steering system , her hull was re - caulk ed to eliminate persistent leaks . " Anaqua " resumed operations late in May , took on a cargo , and , on 25 May , sailed for the Mariana Islands . After a brief stop en route at Eniwetok , the net tender reached Guam on 16 June , discharged her cargo , and then proceeded to Tinian to lay gasoline tanker moorings . She completed this job on 22 June and sailed on to Ulithi . She arrived there on the 26th and spent the next four months in the lagoon of that atoll maintaining anti - torpedo nets in conjunction with five other net tenders . This duty was interrupted briefly by a trip to Yap Island following the surrender of Japan to load Japanese ordnance gear for transportation back to Ulithi . End - of - war operations . Following her return to the atoll , " Anaqua " assisted in closing down the large fleet anchorage at Ulithi . The vessel helped remove of anti - torpedo net . This salvage work was completed by 17 October , when she headed home with a barge in tow . The ship paused at Saipan to unload nets being transported by the barge and then proceeded to Hawaii . During this passage , rough seas and inclement weather slowed her progress , and " Anaqua " headed for Midway Islands to refuel . The vessel finally reached Pearl Harbor on 12 November . The net tender left Hawaii on the 16th and reached San Diego , California , on 25 November . Shortly thereafter , she sailed to San Pedro , California , where preparations to deactivate the ship began . Post - war decommissioning . " Anaqua " was decommissioned at San Pedro on 7 February 1946 , and her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 26 February 1946 . The ship was sold on 6 March 1946 to Mr . Robert J . Heffner , Santa Ana , California .