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Marquette
See also : More photos of the ex. Marquette
See also : 2 Video Films SS American Victory
See also : Video Film SS Middletown
T3-S-A1
Chiwawa Class Fleet Oiler:
Laid down in 1942 as Marquette, a Maritime Commission type (T3-S-A1) tanker hull, under
Maritime Commission (MC hull 519) at Bethlehem Sparrow's Point Shipyard, Inc., Sparrow's Point, MD.;
Launched 31 October 1942;
Acquired by the Navy and Commissioned USS Neshanic (AO-71), 20 February 1943;
Decommissioned, 19 December 1945 at Norfolk, VA.;
Struck from the Naval Register, 8 January 1946;
Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 28 June 1946, for disposal; sold into commercial
service in 1947, to Gulf Oil Corporation, Philadelphia, PA., renamed Gulfoil;
Resold, 1958, to Pioneer Steamship Co., renamed Pioneer Challenge and converted to a
straight deck bulk carrier;
Resold, 1962 to the Oglebay Norton Company, renamed Middletown; converted to a self-unloader
in 1982 at Bay Shipbuilding Company in Sturgeon Bay, still in service on the Great Lakes.
( See photos below + additional info )
(AO) Specifications:
Displacement 5,650 t.(lt) 21,077 t.(fl);
Length 502' 6";
Beam 68';
Draft 31';
Speed 17kts;
Complement 13 officers 200 enlisted;
Armament one 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount, four 3"/50 guns,
four twin 40mm gun mounts, six twin 20mm gun mounts;
Capacity 134,000 barrels;
Propulsion, geared turbine, single screw. 12,000hp.
Bulk Carrier Specifications:
Length 730';
Beam 75';
Draft 39' 3";
Capacity (tons) 26,300;
Unloading boom 260'
View the Neshanic (AO-71)
DANFS history entry located on the Hyperwar US Navy in WWII web site.
Ship Report for "NESHANIC"
IDNo:
|
5234395
|
Year:
|
1943
|
Name:
|
NESHANIC
|
Launch Date:
|
31.10.1942
|
Type:
|
Tanker
|
Date of completion:
|
20.02.1943
|
Flag:
|
USA
|
Keel:
|
|
DWT:
|
16100
|
Yard No:
|
4381
|
Length overall:
|
152.9
|
Ship Design:
|
T3-S-A1
|
LPP:
|
148.6
|
Country of build:
|
USA
|
Beam:
|
20.7
|
Builder:
|
Bethlehem
|
Material of build:
|
|
Location of yard:
|
Sparrow's Point
|
Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):
|
1ST-15
|
|
|
Owner as Completed:
|
U.S. Navy
|
Subsequent History:
[ Launched as MARQUETTE] - 1947 GULFOIL -
[ 1961 converted to bulk carrier, 218.3 reg x 22.9 m, 13167 grt ] -
1961 PIONEER CHALLENGER - 1962 MIDDLETOWN - 2006 AMERICAN VICTORY
Disposal Data:
-
History :
ON
|
LR/IMO
|
ID
|
Year
|
Name
|
Tons
|
Name change
|
Main Owner
|
AO-71
|
|
5234395
|
1943
|
MARQUETTE
|
10350
|
|
U.S. Navy
|
|
|
5234395
|
1943
|
NESHANIC
|
10350
|
1943
|
U.S. Govt
|
251093
|
5234395
|
5234395
|
1943
|
GULFOIL
|
10350
|
1947
|
Gulf Oil Corp.
|
251093
|
5234395
|
5234395
|
1943
|
PIONEER CHALLENGER
|
13167
|
1961
|
Hutchinson & Co.
|
251093
|
5234395
|
5234395
|
1943
|
MIDDLETOWN
|
13167
|
1962
|
Oglebay Norton Co.
|
251093
|
5234395
|
5234395
|
1943
|
AMERICAN VICTORY
|
13167
|
2006
|
American SS Co.
|
A comment by Steve Sliwka ;
Either shortly after delivery, or while finishing final fit-out in the yard, the name was changed to Neshanic. More
importantly, the vessel is still sailing as a bulk carrier in the fleet I am employed with. Three years ago I was an
oiler aboard her. The original steam equipment is still used, with relatively minor modifications. The original DC
electrical equipment has been replaced with updated AC switchgear and wiring, and induction motors with
pumps have replaced the primary steam reciprocating pumps, but the original turbines, reduction gear, boilers
and entire bow section are still in place. The midship cabins were relocated to the bow, with a new bulk cargo
section (fabricated in The Netherlands), which has further been converted to a geared self-unloader. The
original DC generators have been replaced with Navy surplus, 1960s vintage, General Electric 1250kW (?) AC
generators. The majority of the cabin decks are still bare, painted steel, with rivets running down the middle of
several cabins. The bridge wings sport the battle ribbons awarded to the Neshanic for victories against the
Japanese in WWII.
Ever since the war, the vessel has sustained its share of misfortunes and hard luck. Several employees in the
fleet refuse to work aboard her, claiming the many deaths and injuries sustained by crewmembers over the
years as the justification for their decision. It is recognized as one of the fastest ships on the Great Lakes,
with the fastest a diesel-repowered sister, the Lee A Tregurtha (original Samoset, Bethlehem Hull 4378) only
slightly higher in speed. I cannot comment on the condition of 4378 as I have not worked aboard her, but I
understand she was in excellent condition as well. After her conversion to diesel two years ago
(2 Bergen/Rolls Royce 6-cyl MFO engines installed) the engine room no longer retains the original
authenticity, though its overall lifespan has been greatly increased.
In short, the aforementioned vessels are still in service, albeit as bulk carriers. A small input of history for
two ships that may very well be some of the last ones of their class still in existence.
"USS Neshanic (AO-71)".
"Gulfoil", ex. "USS Neshanic (AO-71)".
( Photo courtesy of Photoship )
"Gulfoil", ex. "USS Neshanic (AO-71)".
"Middletown", after conversion to a dry-bulker.
"Middletown", after conversion to a dry-bulker.
"Middletown", after conversion to a dry-bulker.
Custody & Disposal CARDS by PMARS is MARAD's official repository of NDRF ships
of Neshanic
Custody CARDSNo Disposal CARDS
Additional information :
Registry & Rig Information
|
||
Vessel Name:
|
USS NESHANIC (AO-71)
|
|
Nationality
|
U.S.
|
|
Official Number:
|
U.S. NAVY
|
|
Rig:
|
Propeller
|
|
Dimensions & Tonnage
|
|||
Vessel Length:
|
488.25
|
Gross Tonnage:
|
10340.00
|
Vessel Width:
|
68.25
|
Net Tonnage:
|
6301.00
|
Vessel Height
|
36.75
|
Hull Material:
|
Steel
|
Masts:
|
|
Hull Number:
|
04381
|
Builder Information
|
||||
Place of Built:
|
Sparrows Point, MD
|
|||
Builder:
|
Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard, Inc.
|
|||
Date of Built
|
1943
|
|||
Name Changes
|
||||
Vessel Name:
|
Date:
|
Registry
|
Official #
|
|
GULFOIL
|
1947 - 1961
|
U.S.
|
251093
|
|
PIONEER CHALLENGER
|
1961 - 1962
|
U.S.
|
251093
|
|
MIDDLETOWN
|
1962
|
U.S.
|
251093
|
|
Ownership Changes
|
||||
Owner Name
|
Date
|
Registry
|
Official #
|
|
U.S. Maritime Commission
Washington, DC U.S.
|
1942 - 1943
|
U.S.
|
U.S. NAVY
|
|
U.S. Navy
Washington, DC U.S.
|
1943 - 1947
|
U.S.
|
U.S. NAVY
|
|
Gulf Oil Co.
Philadelphia, PA U.S.
|
1947 - 1958
|
U.S.
|
251093
|
|
Maryland Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co.
Baltimore, MD U.S.
|
1958 - 1960
|
U.S.
|
251093
|
|
Pioneer Steamship Co. (Hutchinson & Co., Mgrs.)
Cleveland, OH U.S.
|
1960 - 1962
|
U.S.
|
251093
|
|
Columbia Transportation Co.
Cleveland, OH U.S.
|
1962
|
U.S.
|
251093
|
|
ReBuilt History
|
Converted to dry bulk carrier and lengthened by Maryland Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co.; mid body built by Verholme United Shipyards, Rotterdam, Holland, in 1961 (716.58 x 75.16 x 35.58; 13167 gross - 9430 net). Converted to self-unloader at Bay Shipbuilding, June 25, 1982.
|
History
|
Laid down as MARQUETTE. Built under U.S. Maritime Commission contract as T3-S-A1 tanker. Christened at Baltimore, MD, June 24, 1961, as PIONEER CHALLENGER; departed shipyard, July 1, 1961, for Seven Islands, P.Q. Passed upbound, Detroit, on maiden voyage, July 16, 1961. As GULFOIL: In collision with tanker S.E. GRAHAM, August 7, 1958, at Newport, RI. The GRAHAM, carrying 1,000,000 gallons of gasoline, exploded, killing 15 of GULFOIL's crewmen. As PIONEER CHALLENGER: Struck submerged object off Buffalo, NY, July 30, 1961, suffering severe bottom damage. Repaired by Fraser-Nelson Shipyard, Superior, WI. As MIDDLETOWN: Inspection by divers on December 6, 1978, revealed broken rudder stock; towed to Lorain for repairs.
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