The USS Yazoo (YN-121/AN-92) was a Cohoes-class net laying ship constructed during World War II, designed specifically to protect U.S. Navy vessels and harbors by deploying anti-submarine nets. Built by the Zenith Dredge Co. in Duluth, Minnesota, she was laid down on July 6, 1944, launched on October 18, 1944, and commissioned on May 31, 1945. Her construction featured the standard design of her class, optimized for laying, maintaining, and recovering defensive netting and mines. After shakedown training in Rhode Island, Yazoo proceeded via the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway to the Boston Navy Yard for fitting out. Her early service involved net defense operations along the East Coast, including Newport, Rhode Island, New York City, and Boston, where she laid anti-submarine nets and conducted net-laying exercises. She also performed auxiliary tasks such as pulling a large cargo vessel off a beach in Rhode Island and laying fleet moorings at Argentia, Newfoundland. Post-WWII, Yazoo’s activities expanded to include laying moorings in the Azores, target towing for submarine and surface fleet exercises, and mine testing operations. In 1953, she was modified to install semi-permanent mine tracks, enabling her to lay naval mines, and participated in various operations including Operation Hardex and joint U.S.-Canadian exercises. Her service included extensive mine warfare training, buoy laying, and participation in NATO exercises near Nova Scotia. Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, Yazoo was active in deploying and recovering mines, supporting fleet exercises, and conducting special projects off the U.S. East Coast and abroad. Notably, she assisted vessels in distress, such as towing HMCS Cape Scott out of danger in 1960. Her operational career culminated with her decommissioning on August 28, 1962. The vessel was struck from the Navy List in 1963 and transferred to the U.S. Maritime Administration for reserve storage until approximately 1973–1975. Her service reflected the vital role of net-laying ships in Cold War naval defense and mine warfare operations.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.