USNS Private John R. Towle (T-AK-240)
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| Career (USA) | 100x35px |
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| Name: | Private John R. Towle |
| Namesake: | A name retained |
| Ordered: | as type (VC2-S-AP2) hull, MC hull 162 |
| Builder: | Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation, Portland, Oregon |
| Laid down: | 9 December 1944, as SS Appleton Victory |
| Launched: | 19 January 1945 |
| Sponsored by: | Mrs. John Goodland, Jr. |
| Commissioned: | 20 June 1946 as USAT Private John R. Towle |
| Decommissioned: | date unknown |
| In service: | 1 March 1950 as USNS Private John R. Towle (T-AK-240) |
| Out of service: | date unknown |
| Struck: | 31 July 1982 |
| Fate: | sold for scrapping, 4 June 1982 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Greenvile Victory-class cargo ship |
| Tonnage: | 4,512 tons |
| Tons burthen: | 15,589 tons |
| Length: | 455' |
| Beam: | 62' |
| Draft: | 29' 2" |
| Propulsion: | cross compound steam turbine, single propeller, 8,500shp |
| Speed: | 15.5 knots |
| Complement: | 99 officers and enlisted |
| Armament: | none |
USNS Private John R. Towle (T-AK-240) was a Greenville Victory-class cargo ship that served as a commercial cargo ship during the final year of World War II. Post-war she was acquired by the U.S. Army as USAT Private John R. Towle until the 1950s when she was assigned to the U.S. Navy’s Military Sea Transportation Service for various duties, including runs to Antarctica’s McMurdo Sound.
Contents
Victory built in Oregon
Private John R. Towle (AK-240) was laid down, under U.S. Maritime Commission contract, as Appleton Victory (MCV hull 162) by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation, Portland, Oregon, 9 December 1944; launched 19 January 1945; sponsored by Mrs. John Goodland, Jr.
World War II service
She was delivered to the Maritime Commission, thence to the American Mail Line for operation, 23 March 1945. She operated along the Pacific coast for a year, was returned to the Maritime Commission.
U.S. Army service
Appleton Victory was transferred to the Army Transportation Service (ATS) at New York City, in June 1946. Later returned to the U.S. West Coast, she was renamed Private John R. Towle, 31 October 1947, and, under that name, continued to serve ATS until returned to the Maritime Commission; transferred to the Navy, and designated AK–240 in March 1950.
Between 1950 and 1955, the Victory ship, assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) and manned by a civil service crew, continued cargo operations in the Pacific Ocean.
Antarctic operations
Then reassigned to MSTS, Atlantic, she began preparations for her first Antarctic resupply mission. During the southern summers of 1956–57, 1957–58, 1959–60, and 1960–61 she steamed south to deliver cargo to McMurdo Sound.
Needed elsewhere, the ice-strengthened AK did not return to Antarctic waters until the 1963–64 season. Since then, however, and into 1970, she returned annually to support the military and civilian personnel working there.
Post-war decommissioning and career
On 25 August 1980 Private John R. Towle was returned to the U.S. Maritime Administration and laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, Virginia. She was struck from the Navy list on 31 July 1982 and was sold for scrapping on 4 June 1982.
Honors and awards
Eligible 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-240 Private John R. Towle
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