USNS Colonel William J. O'Brien (T-AK-246)

USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien (T-AK-246) was a US Maritime Administration (MARCOM) C1-M-AV1 type coastal cargo ship, originally planned as an Alamosa-class cargo ship. Constructed as Maiden's Eye for the MARCOM, completed in August 1945 and placed in operation by the War Shipping Administration (WSA). After the war Maiden's Eye was transferred to the US Army and renamed USAT Colonel William J. O’Brien who kept her in service until transferred to the US Navy in 1950 for operation as USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien (T-AK-246) by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) until 1973.

USNS Colonel William J. O'Brien (T-AK-246), underway, date and location unknown.
History
United States
Name: Maiden's Eye (never received name)
Namesake: Maiden's Eye (a type of knot)
Ordered: as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2323[1]
Builder: Consolidated Steel Corporation, Long Beach, California
Yard number: 1228[1]
Laid down: 17 January 1945
Launched: 13 February 1945
Commissioned: delivered to War Shipping Administration (WSA) prior to commissioning, 10 April 1945
Identification:
Fate: delivered to the Army Transportation Service (ATS), 11 July 1946
History
United States
Name: Colonel William J. O’Brien
Namesake: Lieutenant Colonel William J. O’Brien, awarded Medal of Honor
Operator: ATS
Acquired: 11 July 1945
In service: 11 July 1945
Out of service: 1 March 1950
Fate: transferred to the US Navy, 1 March 1950
History
United States
Name: Colonel William J. O’Brien
Operator: MSTS
Acquired: 1 March 1950
In service: 1 March 1950
Out of service: 1 September 1973
Stricken: 1 September 1973
Identification: Hull symbol: T-AK-246
Fate: transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to be sold, 9 November 1973
Status: sold for scrapping, 9 November 1973
General characteristics [2]
Class and type: Alamosa-class cargo ship
Type: C1-M-AV1
Tonnage: 5,032 long tons deadweight (DWT)[1]
Displacement:
  • 2,382 long tons (2,420 t) (standard)
  • 7,450 long tons (7,570 t) (full load)
Length: 388 ft 8 in (118.47 m)
Beam: 50 ft (15 m)
Draft: 21 ft 1 in (6.43 m)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 1 × propeller
Speed: 11.5 kn (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Capacity:
  • 3,945 t (3,883 long tons) DWT
  • 9,830 cu ft (278 m3) (refrigerated)
  • 227,730 cu ft (6,449 m3) (non-refrigerated)
Complement:
  • 15 Officers
  • 70 Enlisted

Construction

The ship was laid down as Maiden's Eye, one of the "Knot" ships named for a type of splice, on 17 January 1945 and launched, sponsored by Mrs. Thomas S. Middleton, on 13 February 1945 at Consolidated Steel Corporation, Long Beach, California, as a type (C1-M-AV1) under MARCOM contract, MC hull 2323.[3][2][4] She was acquired by the US War Shipping Administration (WSA) on 10 April 1945 with operation by Grace Line as WSA's agent.[3]

US military service

On 11 July 1946, Maiden's Eye was assigned to the U.S. Army under bareboat charter for operation as USAT Colonel William J. O'Brien until transferred to the US Navy 1 March 1950.[3] The Army name was retained with the ship immediately transferred to the MSTS as USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien (T-AK-246) for permanent assignment.[5] USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien was stricken from the Navy List on 1 September 1973.[2]

Disposition

Title was returned to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) on 9 November 1973 with sale to B. V. Intershitra of the Netherlands for $223,550 for scrapping.[6]

Notes

    Citations

    Bibliography

    Online resources

    • "Colonel William J. O'Brien (T-AK-246)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
    • "C1 Cargo Ships". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
    • "USNS Colonel William J. O'brien (AK-246)". Navsource.org. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
    • "MAIDEN'S EYE". United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
    • "COLONEL WILLIAM J. O'BRIEN". United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
    • Long Beach Independent (14 February 1945). "326 Foot Vessel Launched Sideways". Long Beach Independent, Long Beach, California. Retrieved 1 November 2014.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
    • Photo gallery of USS Colonel William J. O'brien (AK-246) at NavSource Naval History


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