From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

The first Hazel retained her former name, while the second was named for the small tree or shrub which bears the hazelnut or filbert.

(YN - 24: dp. 560; l. 163'2"; b. 30'6"; dr. 11'8"; s. 12 k.; cpl. 48; a. 1 3"; cl. Aloe) Hazel (YN-24), originally Poplar but renamed soon after keel-laying, was launched 15 February 1941 by American Shipbuilding Co., Lorain, Ohio, and was placed in service 27 October 1941. She commissioned 17 December 1942 at Newport, Lt. (j.g.) A. W. Brown commanding.

After being placed in service, Hazel steamed to Portsmouth, N.H., and Boston, where her outfitting was completed. She performed net laying duties at Portland, Maine, and had returned to Boston by the fateful morning of America's entry into the war, 7 December 1941. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the net tender was assigned to Newport, where she performed patrol duties in addition to installing and maintaining the anti-submarine net. Hazel commissioned in December 1942, and remained in the Narragansett Bay area, based at the Naval Net Depot, Melville, R.I. She occasionally performed patrol and fire fighting duties in addition to net tending and installation.

Hazel was redesignated AN-29, 20 January 1944 and after spending October-November 1944 at Portland, Maine, returned to Newport to train officers and men in net defenses and do experimental work for the net depot. She arrived Boston 21 February 1945 to work on the Boston harbor nets, and in the spring was assigned to the Canal Zone. Hazel departed Boston 20 April and arrived Cristobal 2 May 1945.

Tending nets in the Canal Zone defense system until the end of the war, Hazel then took on the large task of removing the intricate defenses from the Canal and its approaches. This was completed 14 October 1945 and the ship returned to its base at Coco Solo. She remained in the 15th Naval District performing miscellaneous duties at Coco Solo, Balboa, and other installations until 2 December 1957, when she departed for Florida. Hazel arrived Mayport 9 December and decommissioned 11 February 1958. She was placed in reserve at Green Cove Springs, where she remained until struck from the Navy List 1 September 1962.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)