Seems like it might be a former Mariner class freighter conversion. Definitely post-WW-II with that helo flight deck at the stern (background NYC skyline suggests late '50s to early '60s).
The general hull form and especially the long fo'c'sle suggest a ship similar to Tulare (AKA-112), which was a conversion from a Mariner class freighter.
Another possibility is a conversion from a class-mate of Francis Marion (APA/LPA-249).
Both of the mentioned types share the long fo'c'sle, single superstructure funnel, and other general superstructure features. In neither case are they identical, but they are similar. So, in the case of a conversion then this ship might have a member of one of those classes.
Perhaps she's an early or intermediate version of USNS Observation Island (T-AGM-23). So far, that's the best fit that I can find to the several hints provided...
You said "this was quite a well known ship,you could almost say she was famous."
Well, from my reading of this matter or issue there wasn't anything famous regarding the matter. On this side of the pond this was nothing more than an absurd postscript to several ships' long-term services to the USN. We've got our own home-grown crazies. You've got more of 'em than we suffer from...
I SERVED ON THE CI IN 1972. SHE WAS A SWEETHEART OF A SHIP. RODE LIKE A CADILLAC EXCEPT ON THE NORTH ATLANTIC CRUISE OF NOVEMBER 1972. ONE WEEK OF SEAS OF AT LEAST 50 FT. TRACKING SOMETHING THAT WAS SO DAMN IMPORTANT TO COMSUBLANT WE LOST OUR TRAILING CABLE DOING SO. MOST OPERATIONS WERE DONE IN THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE AT 2 WEEK INTERVALS. EARL 5 SPACES 2 CARRIAGE RETURNS 1 LINE FEED. EARL
41 comments:
USS Kingsport T-AG-164
Hello Chuck Hill,
nope.
GrandLogistics.
Does look like a converted Victory ship.
Hello Chuck Hill,
she was a conversion but not of a Victory ship.
GrandLogistics,
I am stumped. That is flighdeck on the stern so.........
How about a nice picture of the USS California in front of the Brooklyn Bridge instead?
http://padresteve.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/california-1938.jpg
Seems like it might be a former Mariner class freighter conversion. Definitely post-WW-II with that helo flight deck at the stern (background NYC skyline suggests late '50s to early '60s).
The general hull form and especially the long fo'c'sle suggest a ship similar to Tulare (AKA-112), which was a conversion from a Mariner class freighter.
Another possibility is a conversion from a class-mate of Francis Marion (APA/LPA-249).
Both of the mentioned types share the long fo'c'sle, single superstructure funnel, and other general superstructure features. In neither case are they identical, but they are similar. So, in the case of a conversion then this ship might have a member of one of those classes.
I think we have all been assuming it is American (certainly the basic hull looks American, but maybe the conversion is not.)
Is it American?
Hello Chuck Hill,
hmmm,would that be narrowing it down too much?
It might be American.
It is not from Uzbekistan.
GrandLogistics.
That suggests to me that it is not. Thanks, I'm not sure it's going to help a lot.
Hello Chuck Hill,
I will say she was scrapped very recently.
GrandLogistics.
Hello,
this was quite a well known ship,you could almost say she was famous.
GrandLogistics.
Hello D.E.Reddick,
when you're hot,you're hot.
GrandLogistics.
Chuck,
steve,
If I'm hot, then it's likely to be an ex-Mariner class freighter (maybe in non-USN service - perhaps even transferred to the RN / RFA service).
Of course, if it's GL/tangosix who's being hot - well then, I'm wholly wrong.
Famous? No! Not an earlier version of USS Liberty (AGTR-5).
Hello D.E.Reddick,
she is either a lot more famous or a lot less famous than Liberty,depending on your perspective.
GrandLogistics.
Falkland Islands, 1982?
Hello D.E.Reddick,
this ship has sailed to all points of the compass but as far as I am aware she was not in the islands during the Falklands war.
GrandLogistics.
Hello,
this ship became internationally well known in her twilight years.
GrandLogistics.
Would she be the USS Liberty?
http://steeljawscribe.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/h97473.jpg
Hello steve,
no,she is not Liberty.
She has been on television and in newspapers in recent years.
GrandLogistics.
I hadn't see that Liberty had been mentioned earlier sorry.
Hello steve,
no problem.
would it help if I said you can buy a model kit of this ship?
GrandLogistics.
The USS PUEBLO (AGER 2)? I know, long shot.
Oh well, stupid answer. Should have though for more than 1/10 second.
Hello Anonymous,
it isn't U.S.S.Pueblo.
But it's name does begin with the words United States Ship.
GrandLogistics.
Hello,
still no takers for this one?
Her sister ship is still in service.
GrandLogistics.
Perhaps she's an early or intermediate version of USNS Observation Island (T-AGM-23). So far, that's the best fit that I can find to the several hints provided...
Hello D.E.Reddick,
dagnabbit!
I was just about to put up Observation Island as the next ship spotting post.
Did you know she had an interesting sister ship?
GrandLogistics.
GL / tangosix,
Well, does that "dagnabbit" mean I'm right?
Sister ship? There's a whole d@mn page-long list of sister ships...
Hello D.E.Reddick,
well,you got the next one before the picture was even posted but you haven't gotten this one yet!
GrandLogistics.
Chuck,
steve,
OK, we now know that whatever this beast may be - it is definitely a conversion from a 1950s era Mariner class freighter.
Well,
I'm just going down the list of that class of vessels with interesting names and/or histories (since pictures are few and far between)...
So, perhaps USS Paul Revere (APA/LPA-248) - later renamed Castillia (L-21) when in Spanish service.
Finally,
USS Compass Island (AG-153).
Hello D.E.Reddick,
she is not Paul Revere.
Did I mention that Observation Island had an interesting sister ship?
GrandLogistics.
Hello D.E.Reddick,
at last!
The United States Ship Compass Island:
http://www.69elks.com/NewCI.html
Now,read through my replies above and you might notice something!
GrandLogistics.
Oh yeah,
How could I forget:
"this ship has sailed to all points of the -COMPASS- but as far as I am aware she was not in the islands during the Falklands war."
Hello D.E.Reddick,
I was tempted to leave the s off islands but that would have been too much of a give away.
Compass Island and a few others caused a stir when they went for scrapping.
An environmental group decided to oppose it on spurious grounds:
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1679826,00.html
Here is a picture of her final days:
http://dfos.smugmug.com/EuVue-Regional/Dec09/News-Nature-Watch/Able-Seaton-Port-arial-Dec-09/755464588_jgVgb-XL.jpg
GrandLogistics.
GL / tangosix,
You said "this was quite a well known ship,you could almost say she was famous."
Well, from my reading of this matter or issue there wasn't anything famous regarding the matter. On this side of the pond this was nothing more than an absurd postscript to several ships' long-term services to the USN. We've got our own home-grown crazies. You've got more of 'em than we suffer from...
I SERVED ON THE CI IN 1972. SHE WAS A SWEETHEART OF A SHIP. RODE LIKE A CADILLAC EXCEPT ON THE NORTH ATLANTIC CRUISE OF NOVEMBER 1972. ONE WEEK OF SEAS OF AT LEAST 50 FT. TRACKING SOMETHING THAT WAS SO DAMN IMPORTANT TO COMSUBLANT WE LOST OUR TRAILING CABLE DOING SO. MOST OPERATIONS WERE DONE IN THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE AT 2 WEEK INTERVALS. EARL 5 SPACES 2 CARRIAGE RETURNS 1 LINE FEED. EARL
Hello Earl,
thankyou for your comments,it is good to hear from one of her crew.
We particularly like stories about storms,there is a link on the left about laying the first Atlantic cable,it is well worth reading.
GrandLogistics.
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