USNS Private Frank J. Petrarca

Last updated
T-AK-250 Pvt. Frank J. Petrarca.jpg
USNS Private Frank J. Petrarca (T-AK-250), moored, date and location unknown.
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameLong Splice
Namesake Long splice
Orderedas type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2329 [1]
Builder Consolidated Steel Corporation, Long Beach, California
Yard number1234 [1]
Laid down18 April 1945
Launched7 August 1945
Sponsored byMrs. Eloi J. Amar
Commissioneddelivered to the Maritime Commission (MARCOM) prior to commissioning, 20 September 1945
Identification
FateTransferred to the War Shipping Administration (WSA)
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NamePrivate Frank J. Petrarca
Namesake Frank J. Petrarca, awarded the Medal of Honor
OwnerWSA
Operator US Army
Acquired3 October 1946
In service3 October 1946
Out of service1 March 1950
FateTransferred to the US Navy, 1 March 1950
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
NamePrivate Frank J. Petrarca
OwnerUS Navy
Operator Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS)
Acquired1 March 1950
In service1 March 1950
Out of service9 April 1959
In service7 April 1960
Stricken15 October 1973
Identification Hull symbol: T-AK-250
FateSold, 28 December 1977
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
Name
  • Artic Producer
  • Artic Enterprise
Owner
  • General Auto Wrecking Company
  • Trident Seafoods Company
Acquired28 December 1977
Renamed1991
Identification
Fateconverted to Fish Factory Ship
StatusActive as of 2013
General characteristics [2]
Class and type Alamosa-class cargo ship
Type C1-M-AV1
Tonnage5,032 long tons deadweight (DWT) [1]
Displacement
  • 2,382 long tons (2,420 t) (standard)
  • 7,450 long tons (7,570 t) (full load)
Length388 ft 8 in (118.47 m)
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft21 ft 1 in (6.43 m)
Installed power
Propulsion1 × propeller
Speed11.5  kn (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Capacity
  • 3,945 t (3,883 long tons) DWT
  • 9,830 cu ft (278 m3) (refrigerated)
  • 227,730 cu ft (6,449 m3) (non-refrigerated)
Complement
  • 15 Officers
  • 70 Enlisted

USNS Private Frank J. Petrarca (T-AK-250) was a US Maritime Administration (MARCOM) C1-M-AV1 type coastal cargo ship, originally planned as an Alamosa-class cargo ship. Constructed as Long Splice for MARCOM, completed in September 1945 and placed in operation by the War Shipping Administration (WSA) during the closing period of World War II. However, the war ended, and she was transferred to the US Army as USAT Private Frank J. Petrarca who kept her in service until transferred to the US Navy in 1950.

Contents

Construction

Long Splice was laid down under MARCOM contract, MC hull 2329, by the Consolidated Steel Corporation, Ltd., Long Beach, California, 18 April 1945; launched 8 July 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Eloi J. Amar; and delivered to the MARCOM, thence to Lykes Brothers, 20 September 1945. [3]

As Long Splice, the cargo ship was operated by Lykes Brothers under General Agency Agreement until 25 June 1946 when the agreement was changed to bareboat charter. On 29 August 1946 the ship returned to the MARCOM and transferred to the War Department under bareboat charter. [3] [4]

US Army service

The ship's title was transferred to the Army 3 October 1946 with the name changed to Private Frank J. Petrarca 31 October 1947. The ship operated with the Army Transportation Service (ATS) until transferred to the Navy, 1 July 1950 after the disestablishment of ATS and establishment of the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) under the new Department of Defense. [3] [4] [5]

US Navy service

Placed in service, with the designation T–AK–250 on 6 July 1950, Private Frank J. Petrarca was assigned to MSTS and served the Mid-Pacific Ocean area until 1959. [3]

Between 9 April 1959 and 4 July 1960, the AK was laid up at Suisun Bay, California, as a unit of the Maritime Administration's National Defense Reserve Fleet. [3]

The ship was reactivated for MSTS service after private industry was unable to support construction on Kanton Island (also known as Canton Island) of a telemetry tracking station to support Project Mercury. The station, composed of the telemetry facility and five other building for housing and support, was constructed by the Pacific SeaBee battalion supported largely by Private Frank J. Petrarca. [6] In 1962, she participated in a cost and feasibility study of year round ocean service in Alaskan waters. [3]

Antarctic service

Four years later, she delivered supplies to McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, to support Deep Freeze ‘66. In accomplishing that mission she became the first cargo ship to be so employed without benefit of an ice-strengthened hull. Since that time, into 1970, Private Frank J. Petrarca continued to carry vital supplies and equipment, particularly to southeast Asia, for MSTS, Pacific. [3]

Final inactivation

She was struck from the Navy List on 15 October 1973. The ship was sold for non transportation use on 16 December 1977 for $68,010 to General Auto Wrecking Co. which resold the vessel to Trident Seafoods Co. for use as the fish processing ship Arctic Producer and later Artic Enterprise in 1991. [2] [4]

Notes

    Citations
    1. 1 2 3 C1 Cargo Ships 2009.
    2. 1 2 Navsource 2015.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 DANFS 2015.
    4. 1 2 3 Maritime Administration.
    5. ↑ Bureau of Naval Personnel 1962, pp. 11–16.
    6. ↑ Bureau of Naval Personnel 1962, p. 165.

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