SS Flickertail State (T-ACS-5)

300px SS Flickertail State (T-ACS-5)
Career (United States)
Name:	CV Export Lightning (MA-206)
Owner:	United States Maritime Administration
Operator:	American Export Isbrandtsen Line
Ordered:	30 November 1965
Builder:	Bath Iron Works
Laid down:	14 February 1967
Launched:	11 May 1968
In service:	21 February 1969 to 1986
Fate:	Acquired by the United States Navy in 1986
Career (United States)
Name:	SS Flickertail State (T-ACS-5)
Namesake:	The state of North Dakota, which is also known as the Flickertail State.
In service:	9 February 1988 to the present
Notes:	Five days required to activate for service.
General characteristics
Class and type:	Gopher State-class crane ship
Displacement:	31,500 long tons
Length:	668 ft 7 in
Beam:	76 ft 1 in
Draft:	33 ft 6 in
Propulsion:	Single propeller
Speed:	17 knots
Complement:	9 civilian during Reduced Operating Status 32 civilian during Full Operating Status

SS Flickertail State (T-ACS-5) is a crane ship in ready reserve for the United States Navy. She is stationed at Newport News, Virginia and is in ready reserve under the Military Sealift Command. The ship was named for the state of North Dakota, which is also known as the Flickertail State.

The ship was built by the Bath Iron Works. Her keel was laid on 14 February 1967, launched on 11 May 1968, and delivered 21 February 1969 as CV Lightning (MA-206).

Lightning was acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Administration in 1986 and was converted throughout 1987. She re-entered service as Flickertail State on 9 February 1988, and has been in ready reserve since 1993.

See also

• Operation Steel Box

External links

• Military Sealift Command page on Flickertail State
• Entry in the Naval Register
• Global Security.org - T-ACS Keystone State Auxiliary Crane Ships
• Global Security.org - T-ACS Keystone State Auxiliary Crane Ships specifications
• Navsource.org