USNS Colonel William J. O'Brien (T-AK-246)
| Career (USA) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | Colonel William J. O’Brien |
| Namesake: | A U.S. Army name retained: William J. O’Brien |
| Ordered: | as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2323 |
| Builder: | Consolidated Steel Corporation, Long Beach, California |
| Laid down: | 17 January 1945, as MS Maiden's Eye |
| Launched: | 13 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 |
| Struck: | 1 September 1973 |
| Fate: | sold for scrapping, 1 October 1973 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Alamosa-class cargo ship |
| Tonnage: | 2,382 tons |
| Tons burthen: | 6,240 tons |
| Length: | 388' 8" |
| Beam: | 50' |
| Draft: | 21' 1" |
| Propulsion: | Diesel, single screw, 1,700shp |
| Speed: | 11.5 knots |
| Complement: | 85 officers and enlisted |
| Armament: | none |
USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien (T-AK-246) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship that was constructed for the U.S. Navy during the closing period of World War II. However, the war ended, and she was transferred to the U.S. Army as USAT Colonel William J. O’Brien who kept her in service until transferred to the U.S. Navy in 1950.
Contents
Built in Long Beach, California
The ship was laid down as MV Maiden's Eye on 17 January 1945 and launched 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). She was acquired by the U.S. War Shipping Administration (WSA) on 10 April 1945.
U.S. Army service
She was assigned to the U.S. Army which commissioned her on (date unknown) as USAT Colonel William J. O'Brien. She was retained by the U.S. Army until she was transferred to the U.S. Navy 1 March 1950.
Colonel William J. O’Brien (AK-246) was acquired from the U.S. Army on 1 March 1950 and immediately transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien (T-AK-246) for permanent assignment.
She continued to serve the U.S. Navy until she was placed out of service in the 1960s.
Final inactivation
She was stricken from the Navy List on 1 September 1973 and laid up until she was sold on 1 October 1973 and subsequently scrapped.
Honors and awards
Qualified vessel personnel were authorized the following:
References
- This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - T-AK-246 Col. William J. O'Brien
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