Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages     |   home
Index - Part-2
Markay (2)
T3-S2-A1

See also : Crew members Markay

Sangamon Class Escort Carrier
Ordered
Laid down
Launched
Commissioned
Decommissioned
Stricken
3 Jan 1938
3 Jun 1938
4 Mar 1939
16 Jul 1941
24 Sep 1942
21 Feb 1942
8 Jan 1947
1 Mar 1959
Builder: Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearney, N.J.
Named for a river which rises in Ware County, southeastern Georgia and flows southwest across Florida
to empty into the Gulf of Mexico at Suwannee Sound. An earlier US warship had been named Suwanee,
an alternate spelling. Built under a Maritime Commission contract (hull number 5) as the civilian tanker
Markay. Acquired by the Navy on 26 June 1941; classified as a "Fleet Oiler", designated AO-33 and
renamed Suwannee. Designated for conversion to an "Aircraft Escort Vessel", was reclassified AVG-27
on 14 February 1942. Converted to an aircraft carrier at Newport News, Va. Reclassified as an "Auxiliary
Aircraft Carrier" and redesignated ACV-27, 20 August 1942. Reclassified as an "Escort Carrier" and
redesignated CVE-27, 15 July 1943. Placed in a reserve status with the 16th Fleet at Boston, 28
October 1946. Decommissioned as indicated above. Reclassified as an "Escort Helicopter Aircraft
Carrier" and redesignated CVHE-27, 12 June 1955, while in reserve.
Fate: Sold on 30 November 1959 for conversion to merchant service, but the project was subsequently
canceled. Hulk resold in May 1961. Scrapped in Bilbao, Spain, starting in June 1962.
( See photos below )
Specifications (1942, as Converted)
Displacement (design): 11,400 tons standard; 24,275 tons full load
Dimensions (wl): 525' x 75' x 30' 7.5" (full load) / 160 x 22.9 x 9.3 meters
Dimensions (max.): 553' x 114' 3" / 168.6 x 34.8 meters
Armor: None
Power plant: 4 boilers (450 psi); 2 steam turbines; 2 shafts; 13,500 shp (design)
Speed: 18+ knots
Endurance: 23,920 nm @ 15 knots (with 4,780 tons of oil fuel)
Armament: 2 single 5"/51 gun mounts; 4 twin 40-mm/56-cal gun mounts; 12 single 20-mm/70-cal gun mounts
Aircraft: 25
Aviation facilities: 2 elevators; 1 hydraulic catapult
Crew: 830 (ship's company + air wing).

View the USS Suwannee (ACV-27 / CVE-27 / CVHE-27)
DANFS History entry located on the Hazegray & Underway Web Site.

The Miramar Ship Index for "MARKAY"
IDNo:
2238505
Year:
1939
Name:
MARKAY
Launch Date:
04.03.1939
Type:
Tanker
Date of completion:
06.1939
Flag:
USA
Keel:
03.06.1938

DWT:
18300
Yard No:
151
Length overall:
168.6
Ship Design:
T3-S2-A1
LPP:
160.0
Country of build:
USA
Beam:
22.9
Builder:
Federal
Material of build:
Location of yard:
Kearny
Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):
2ST-18

Subsequent History:
1940 SUWANNEE -
[ 1942 converted to escort aircraft carrier, 11400 tons, extreme breadth 32.0 mtr. ]

Disposal Data:
stricken 01.03.1959 & scrapped at  Bilbao 31.07.1962 [ Revalorizacion de Materiales SA ]

History :
ON
LR/IMO
ID
Year
Name
Tons
Name change
Registered Owner
238505
2238505
1939
MARKAY
11323
Keystone Tankship Corp.
AO-33
2238505
1939
SUWANNEE
11323
1940
U.S. Navy
CVE-27
2238505
1939
SUWANNEE
11400
1942
U.S. Navy

 "Markay" on June 26th, 1941, the day when she was aquired by the U.S.Navy. Wearing her original name on the bow and the stack
insignias of the Keystone Shipping Company of Philadelphia on her stack.
On the photo is written "Esso Markay", she was possible chartered by Standard Oil.
( Photo National Archives (Public Domain) )
 
"Markay".
Photos thanks to Betty Hillard who wrote to me :
I have photos of the SS "Markay" which my father Commander Vernon Dietz served on.
He was employed by Keystone Tankship Corp. from 1933-1949.
 
"Markay".
( Photo thanks to Betty Hillard )
 
"Markay", twin screw, keep clear.
( Photo thanks to Betty Hillard )
Broadside view of USS Suwannee off Mare Island Navy Yard on 12 Oct 1943, after conversion.
Port side underway, 1943-1944.
Puget Sound Navy Yard, 26 January 1945. USS Suwannee after repairs from the Kamikaze
attacks of October 1944.
Port side underway, 1943-1944.