USNS Colonel William J. O'Brien
| History | |
|---|---|
 USA | |
| Name | list error: <br /> list (help) Maiden's Eye Colonel William J. O’Brien |
| Namesake | list error: <br /> list (help) A type of knot Lieutenant Colonel William J. O’Brien, U.S. Army |
| Ordered | MC type (C1-M-AV1), MC hull 2323 |
| Builder | Consolidated Steel Corporation, Long Beach, California |
| Laid down | 17 January 1945, as MS Maiden's Eye |
| Launched | 3 February 1945 |
| Commissioned | date unknown, as USAT Colonel William J O'Brien |
| Decommissioned | circa 1 March 1950 |
| In service | circa 1 March 1950 as USNS Colonel William J. O'Brien (T-AK-246) |
| Out of service | in the 1960s |
| Stricken | 1 September 1973 |
| Fate | sold for scrapping, 9 October 1973 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Alamosa-class cargo ship |
| Tonnage | 3,805 GRT[1] |
| Tons burthen | 6,240 tons |
| Length | 388' 8" |
| Beam | 50' |
| Draft | 21' 1" |
| Propulsion | Diesel, single screw, 1,700shp |
| Speed | 11.5 knots |
| Complement | 62 MSTS civilian mariners |
| Armament | none |
USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien (T-AK-246), built as MV Maiden's Eye, was an Alamosa-class cargo ship that was completed 10 April 1945 for the War Shipping Administration (WSA). After the war Maiden's Eye was transferred to the U.S. Army and renamed USAT Colonel William J. O’Brien who kept her in service until transferred to the U.S. Navy in 1950 for operation as USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien (T-AK-246) by the Military Sea Transportation Service until 1973.
Construction and WSA operation
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 U.S. Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2323).[1][2][3][4] She was acquired by the U.S. War Shipping Administration (WSA) on 10 April 1945 with operation by Grace Line as WSA's agent.[1]
U.S. 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 U.S. Navy 1 March 1950.[1] The Army name was retained with the ship immediately transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (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 on 9 November 1973 with sale to B. V. Intershitra of the Netherlands for scrapping.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e Maritime Administration. "Maiden's Eye". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- ^ a b NavSource (14 February 2014). "USNS Col. William J. O'Brien (T-AK-246)". NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive. NavSource. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- ^ "Ashley Book of Knots Index M". Ashley Book of Knots. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- ^ Long Beach Independent (1945). "326 Foot Vessel Launched Sideways" (February 14, 1945). Long Beach Independen, Long Beach, California. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Naval History And Heritage Command. "Colonel William J. O'Brien". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History And Heritage Command. Retrieved 1 November 2014.