High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! USS Ailanthus (AN-38/YN-57) was an Ailanthus-class net laying ship which served with the U.S. Navy in the western Pacific Ocean theatre of operations during World War II. She was assigned to serve the U.S. Pacific Fleet with her protective anti-submarine nets. Unfortunately, while performing this service, she ran aground in Alaskan waters and was declared a total loss.