USNS Grommet Reefer (T-AF-53) was a Grommet Reefer-class stores ship acquired by the U.S. Navy. Her task was to carry stores, refrigerated items, and equipment to ships in the fleet, and to remote stations and staging areas.
Grommet Reefer was laid down under Maritime Commission contract by Walter Butler Shipbuilders, Inc., Riverside Yard, Duluth, Minnesota, 1 January 1944: launched as Kenneth E. Gruennert 29 July 1944: sponsored by Mrs. Walter A. Blodsoe: and delivered to War Shipping Administration (WSA) December 1944 for use as a merchant cargo ship. Prior to 1950 she was owned by WSA and the Maritime Commission; and, as Kenneth E. Gruennert and later as Grommet Reefer, she was operated by several merchant lines, including Grace Lines, Inc.. and Alaska Transportation Company.
Assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Serviceedit
Grommet Reefer was transferred to the Navy by the Maritime Commission 1 March 1950 and assigned to MSTS. Manned by a civilian crew, she operated in the Pacific Ocean out of U.S. West Coast ports, carrying military cargo and frozen and refrigerated foodstuffs. She steamed to American bases in the Marshalls, the Marianas, and other islands in the Western Pacific for more than a year. After returning to San Francisco, California, 25 March 1951, she departed for the U.S. East Coast 4 April and reached New York City 25 April.
Operating in the Mediterranean and North Atlanticedit
Departing New York 29 June, Grommet Reefer sailed to the Mediterranean where she steamed to ports in North Africa and Italy before returning to New York 13 August. After completing a cargo run to Bremerhaven and back, she sailed 22 October for a 2-month deployment to the Mediterranean. From January to April 1952 she made three round-trip voyages to Western Europe, and during the next 2 months she supplied American bases in Labrador and Greenland.
Running aground and breaking in twoedit
Grommet Reefer resumed Mediterranean duty in September and operated between North Africa and Italy before returning to New York 10 November. After loading cargo, she departed for North Africa 5 days later. On 10 December she departed Casablanca, Morocco, for Livorno, Italy. Loaded with Army cargo, she went aground on a reef during a storm off Leghorn 15 December 1952. She broke in half the next day, and her stern section sank without loss of life. The bow section and cargo were salvaged, and the bow section was recovered and transferred to the Maritime Administration 23 July 1953 for disposition.
Military awards and honorsedit
Grommet Reefer’s crew was eligible for the following medal:
NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - T-AF-53 Grommet Reefer
May 04, 2024
usns, grommet, reefer, grommet, reefer, class, stores, ship, acquired, navy, task, carry, stores, refrigerated, items, equipment, ships, fleet, remote, stations, staging, areas, history, united, states, orderedas, kenneth, gruennert, hull, hull, 2243, laid, do. USNS Grommet Reefer T AF 53 was a Grommet Reefer class stores ship acquired by the U S Navy Her task was to carry stores refrigerated items and equipment to ships in the fleet and to remote stations and staging areas History United States Orderedas MV Kenneth E Gruennert C1 M AV1 hull MC hull 2243 Laid down1 January 1944 Launched29 July 1944 Acquired1 March 1950 In serviceas USNS Grommet Reefer T AF 53 1 March 1950 Strickendate unknown FateRan aground off Livorno Italy 15 December 1952 General characteristics Displacement2 382 t lt 6 240 t fl Length338 ft 8 in 103 23 m Beam50 ft 15 m Draught21 ft 6 4 m PropulsionDiesel single propeller 1 700shp Speed10 5 kts Complement40 civilian mariners Armamentnone Grommet Reefer was laid down under Maritime Commission contract by Walter Butler Shipbuilders Inc Riverside Yard Duluth Minnesota 1 January 1944 launched as Kenneth E Gruennert 29 July 1944 sponsored by Mrs Walter A Blodsoe and delivered to War Shipping Administration WSA December 1944 for use as a merchant cargo ship Prior to 1950 she was owned by WSA and the Maritime Commission and as Kenneth E Gruennert and later as Grommet Reefer she was operated by several merchant lines including Grace Lines Inc and Alaska Transportation Company Contents 1 Assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service 2 Operating in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic 3 Running aground and breaking in two 4 Military awards and honors 5 References 6 External linksAssigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service editGrommet Reefer was transferred to the Navy by the Maritime Commission 1 March 1950 and assigned to MSTS Manned by a civilian crew she operated in the Pacific Ocean out of U S West Coast ports carrying military cargo and frozen and refrigerated foodstuffs She steamed to American bases in the Marshalls the Marianas and other islands in the Western Pacific for more than a year After returning to San Francisco California 25 March 1951 she departed for the U S East Coast 4 April and reached New York City 25 April Operating in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic editDeparting New York 29 June Grommet Reefer sailed to the Mediterranean where she steamed to ports in North Africa and Italy before returning to New York 13 August After completing a cargo run to Bremerhaven and back she sailed 22 October for a 2 month deployment to the Mediterranean From January to April 1952 she made three round trip voyages to Western Europe and during the next 2 months she supplied American bases in Labrador and Greenland Running aground and breaking in two editGrommet Reefer resumed Mediterranean duty in September and operated between North Africa and Italy before returning to New York 10 November After loading cargo she departed for North Africa 5 days later On 10 December she departed Casablanca Morocco for Livorno Italy Loaded with Army cargo she went aground on a reef during a storm off Leghorn 15 December 1952 She broke in half the next day and her stern section sank without loss of life The bow section and cargo were salvaged and the bow section was recovered and transferred to the Maritime Administration 23 July 1953 for disposition Military awards and honors editGrommet Reefer s crew was eligible for the following medal National Defense Service MedalReferences editThis article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here External links editNavSource Online Service Ship Photo Archive T AF 53 Grommet Reefer Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USNS Grommet Reefer amp oldid 1149629793, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
