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-classcargo 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.
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]
"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.
External links
Photo gallery of USS Colonel William J. O'brien (AK-246) at NavSource Naval History
usns, colonel, william, brien, usns, colonel, william, brien, maritime, administration, marcom, type, coastal, cargo, ship, originally, planned, alamosa, class, cargo, ship, constructed, maiden, marcom, completed, august, 1945, placed, operation, shipping, adm. 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 HistoryUnited StatesNameMaiden s Eye never received name NamesakeMaiden s Eye a type of knot Orderedas type C1 M AV1 hull MC hull 2323 1 BuilderConsolidated Steel Corporation Long Beach CaliforniaYard number1228 1 Laid down17 January 1945Launched13 February 1945Commissioneddelivered to War Shipping Administration WSA prior to commissioning 10 April 1945IdentificationHull symbol AK 246 never received number Code letters NSSUFateDelivered to the Army Transportation Service ATS 11 July 1946HistoryUnited StatesNameColonel William J O BrienNamesakeLieutenant Colonel William J O Brien awarded Medal of HonorOperatorATSAcquired11 July 1945In service11 July 1945Out of service1 March 1950FateTransferred to the US Navy 1 March 1950HistoryUnited StatesNameColonel William J O BrienOperatorMSTSAcquired1 March 1950In service1 March 1950Out of service1 September 1973Stricken1 September 1973IdentificationHull symbol T AK 246FateSold for scrapping 9 November 1973General characteristics 2 Class and typeAlamosa class cargo shipTypeC1 M AV1Tonnage5 032 long tons deadweight DWT 1 Displacement2 382 long tons 2 420 t standard 7 450 long tons 7 570 t full load Length388 ft 8 in 118 47 m Beam50 ft 15 m Draft21 ft 1 in 6 43 m Installed power1 Nordberg TSM 6 diesel engine 1 750 shp 1 300 kW Propulsion1 propellerSpeed11 5 kn 21 3 km h 13 2 mph Capacity3 945 t 3 883 long tons DWT 9 830 cu ft 278 m3 refrigerated 227 730 cu ft 6 449 m3 non refrigerated Complement15 Officers 70 Enlisted Contents 1 Construction 2 US military service 3 Disposition 4 Notes 5 Bibliography 6 External linksConstruction EditThe 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 EditOn 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 EditTitle 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 EditCitations a b c C1 Cargo Ships 2009 a b c Navsource 2014 a b c MARAD Maiden s Eye Long Beach Independent 1945 DANFS 2015 MARAD O Brien Bibliography EditOnline 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 External links EditPhoto gallery of USS Colonel William J O brien AK 246 at NavSource Naval HistoryPortal World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USNS Colonel William J O 27Brien amp oldid 1148366399, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,