Outboard Profiles of Maritime Commission Vessels
The C4 and his Sub Designs and Conversions
All Drawings by Karsten-Kunibert Krueger-Kopiske 2007
| Design: C4-S-A1 | Kaiser Co.Inc.(Richmond Yard No.3), Richmond, California |
| Navy Troop Transport | MC-654 to 667 and 702 to 716 (29 Built / Built) USS General George O.Squier AP-130, USS General Tasker H.Bliss AP-131, USS General John R.Brooke AP-132, USS General Oswald H.Ernst AP-133, Robert L.Howze AP-134, USS General William M.Black AP-135, USS General Hugh L.Scott AP-136, USS General Harry Taylor AP-137, USS General Samuel D.Sturgis AP-138, USS General William F.Hase AP-139, USS General Edgar T.Collins AP-140, USS General Charles G.Morton AP-141, USS General Mark L.Hersey AP-142, USS General J.H.McRae AP-143, USS General Robert E.Callan AP-144, USS General M.M.Patrick AP-145, USS General W.C.Langfitt AP-146, USS General Omar Bundy AP-147, USS General R.M.Blatchford AP-148, USS General Le Roy Eltinge AP-149, USS General M.B.Stewart AP-150, USS General A.W.Greely AP-151, USS General C.H.Muir AP-152, USS General H.B.Freeman AP-153, USS General H.F.Hodges AP-154, USS General A.W.Brewster AP-155, USS General D.E.Aultman AP-156, USS General C.C.Ballou AP-157, USS General W.G.Haan AP-158, USS General Stuart Heintzelman AP-159 |
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| Design: C4-S-A3 | Kaiser Co.Inc.(Richmond Yard No.3), Richmond, California |
| Troop Transport (WSA) | MC-2383 to 2385 (3 Built / Turbine) Marine Adder, Marine Perch, Marine Swallow |
| Kaiser Co.Inc., Vancouver, Washington | |
| MC-2354 to 2365 (12 Built / Turbine) Marine Tiger, Marine Shard, Marine Cardinal, Marine Falcon, Marine Flasher, Marine Jumper, Marine Jumper, Marine Serpent, Ernie Pyle, Marine Carp, Marine Lynx, Marine Marlin, Marine Phoenix |
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| The C4-S-A3 was nearly identical with the A1 Design, with a larger troop capacity. All vessels delivered to civilian operators. Drawing shows MARINE LYNX in her original configuration before demilitarization. Operated by Moore-McCormack Lines Inc. |
| Design: C4-S-A4 | Kaiser Co.Inc.(Richmond Yard No.3, Richmond, California |
| Breakbulk | MC-2386 to 2387 (2 Built / Turbine) Marine Leopard, Marine Snapper |
| Kaiser Co.Inc., Vancouver, Washington | |
| MC-2366 to 2373 (8 Built / Turbine) Louis McH.Howe, Mount Whitney, Mount Greylock, Mount Mansfield, Willis Vickery, Mount Rogers, Mount Davis, Scott E.Land | |
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| C4-S-A4 design was a Cargo Ship. Typical for these type is the machinery aft with high machinery house, slim funnel, and the bridgeat the break of the fore- castle. All vessel served her whole life under U.S.Flag and Registry (drawing shows a typical C4-S-A4 in post war configuration). | |
| Design: C4-S-B1 | Sun SB & DD Co., Chester, Pennsylvania |
| (Cargo, Heavy Lift) | MC-735 (1 Built / Turbine) Marine Eagle |
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| USNS Pvt.LEONARD C.BROSTROM T-AK-255 (ex- Marine Eagle) was converted for heavy lift in 1953 / 1954 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Brooklyn, New York (drawing shows her with heavy lift equipment), operated by the Military Sea Transportation Service. | |
| Design: C4-S-B2 | Sun SB & DD Co., Chester, Pennsylvania |
| Transport (WSA) / Navy Hospital Ship | MC-736 to 749 (14 Built / Turbine) Marine Raven, Marine Robin, Marine Wolf, Marine Devil, Marine Panther, Marine Dragon, Marine Fox, USS Haven AH-12, USS Benevolence AH-13, USS Tranquility AH-14, USS Consolation AH-15, USS Repose AH-16, USS Sanctuary AH-17, Marine Angel |
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| The second variation of the C4-S-B2 design, were the Hospital Ships for the US Navy (for names see above). Manned by 76 officers and 498 enlisted men (including medical personal), the vessels had accomodations for 700 patients. Painted white and displaying the international Red Cross sign on hull and funnel and brightly lighted at night. All vessels were commissioned in May - June 1945. |
| Design: C4-S-B5 | Sun SB & DD Co., Chester, Pennsylvania |
| (Breakbulk) | MC-750 to 754 (5 Built / Turbine) Marine Flier, Marine Arrow, Marine Star, Marine Fiddler, Marine Runner |
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| States Marine Line bought in 1955 and 1959 three of the five built C4-S-B5 for service HOOSIER STATE (ex- Marine Arrow), KEYSTONE STATE (ex- Marine Flier) and WOLVERINE STATE (ex- Marine Runner) | |
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Conversions from the original C4 Designs |
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C4-S-A1 Conversions |
| Design: C4-S-A1 / Converted | Maryland Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Baltimore, Maryland |
| Containership | MC-703, 706 and 715 (3 Converted) Transidaho (ex- General William F.Hase), Transhawaii (ex- General J.H.McRae), Transoregon (ex- General W.G.Haan) |
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| One variation of the original C4-S-A1 design was the conversion into an Containership. In this case TRANSIDAHO (ex- USS General W.F.Hase AP-146) was converted by Maryland SB & DD Co.at Baltimore, Maryland together with TRANSHAWAII (ex- General J.H.McRae AP-148), TRANSOREGON (ex- USS General W.G.Haan AO-158) and operated for Seatrain Lines under U.S.Flag and Registry. |
| Design: C4-S-A1 / Converted | Bethlehem Pacific Steel Corp., San Francisco, California |
| Breakbulk | MC-656 (1 Converted) Calmar (ex- General Oswald H.Ernst) |
| Bethlehem Steel Corp., SB Division, Sparrows Point, Maryland | |
| MC-653 to 655 and 659 (5 Converted) Pennmar (ex- General George O.Squier, Seamar (ex- General Tasker H.Bliss), Marymar (ex- General John R.Brooke), Yorkmar (ex- General Hugh L.Scott), Portmar (ex-General Omar Bundy) |
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| Up to the mid-1960's the intercoastal fleet of the Calmar SS Corp.(a subsidiary of the Bethlehem Steel Co.) consisted of ten specially converted Liberty Ships. In 1964-65 six of these ships were traded-in to the Marad for larger and faster C4-type troopships, laid-up in Reserve Fleet by the Marad. The plan was to convert the vessels to carriers of non-containerised break-bulk cargoes for its intercoastal service. The conversion work involved was radical. All the superstructure forward of the machinery space, the troop accomodations, partition bulkheads, all but one 'Tween deck, fittings, armament and lifesaving gear was removed - some 3,000 tons per ship. In rebuilding, the remaining superstructure was redesigned as crew quarters. Inter-hold bulkheads were adjusted and reinforced. Gross Tons increased to 11,421 tons. A deadweight capacity of some 15,000 tons (5,000 tons more then the replaced Liberty ships) and a speed of 16 to 17 knots (compared to with the 11 knots of the Liberty ships) allowed a coast-to-coast service of twelve days, considerably increasing the carrying potential of the fleet. Loading steel products and general cargo for the west-bound run and the carriage of lumber from the Pacific northwest to the East coast on the return trip. Calmar was one of only two break-bulk carriers in the American Intercoastal trade. Drawing shows PENNMAR. |
| Design: C4-S-A1 / Converted | Alabama Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Mobile, Alabama |
| Containership | MC-716 (1 Converted) Mobile (ex- General Stuart Heintzelman) |
| Bethlehem Steel Co., Keyhighway Yard, Baltimore, Maryland | |
| MC-712 (1 Converted) Philadelphia (ex- General A.W.Brewster) | |
| Bethlehem Steel Co., Hoboken, New Jersey | |
| MC-714 (1 Converted) Brooklyn (General C.C.Ballou) | |
| Tampa Ship Repair & Dry Dock Co., Tampa, Florida | |
| MC-704 (1 Converted) New Orleans (ex- General Edgar T.Collins | |
| Todd Shipyards Corp., Galveston, Texas | |
| MC-705, 707 and 666 (3 Converted) Pittsburgh (ex- General Mark L.Hersey), Boston (ex- General M.M.Patrick), Newark (ex- General H.B.Freeman), | |
| Todd Shipyards Corp., San Pedro, California | |
| MC-665 (1 Converted) Chicago (ex- General C.H.Muir) | |
| Willamette Iron & Steel Co., Portland, Oregon | |
| MC-713 (1 Converted) Portland (General D.E.Aultman) |
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| Nine former C4-S-A1 were bought by Sea-Land Service Inc. between 1964 and 1968 and converted into Containerships. Drawing shows PHILADELPHIA after conversion by Bethlehem Steel Co., Keyhighway Yard, Baltimore, Maryland. |
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C4-S-A3 Conversions |
| Design: C4-S-A3 / Converted | Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, Mississippi |
| Containership | MC-2354, 2357 to 2359 (4 Converted) Oakland (ex- Marine Tiger), Trenton (ex- Marine Falcon), Long Beach (ex- Marine Flasher), Panama (ex- Marine Jumper), |
| Maryland Ship building & Dry Dock Co., Baltimore, Maryland | |
| MC-2355 to 2356 (2 Converted) Charleston (ex- Marine Shark), Baltimore (ex- Marine Cardinal) | |
| Todd Shipyards Corp., Galveston, Texas | |
| MC-2360 (1 Converted) Galveston (ex- Marine Serpent), |
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| Seven former C4-S-A3 were bought by Sea-Land Service Inc. between 1964 and 1968 and converted into Containerships. Drawing shows CHARLESTON after conversion by Maryland SB & DD Co.at Baltimore, Maryland. |
| Design: C4-S-A3 / Converted | Savannah Machine & Foundry Co., Savannah, Georgia |
| Breakbulk | MC-2363 and 2383 (2 Converted) Transcolumbia (ex- Marine Lynx), Transcolorado (ex- Marine Adder) |
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| After several years laid-up in Reserve Fleet MARINE ADDER was sold to Hudson Waterways Corp.under the terms and provisions of the Exchange Act in August 1967. Vessel renamed to TRANSCOLORADO and transferred to Savannah, Georgia for conversion into a Breakbulk Cargo Ship. Finally vessel transferred to Newport New SB & DD Co.at Newport News, Virginia and fitted with three 120-ton Stulcken-type heavy lift derricks for the movement of heavy military cargo. Vessel chartered by M.S.T.S. (later M.S.C.). |
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C4-S-B5 Conversions |
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| Design: C4-S-B5 / Converted | Todd Shipyards Corp., Brooklyn, New York |
| Passenger & Car Ferry | MC-752 (1 Converted / Turbine) Aquarama |
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| One spectecular conversion of a warbuilt C4 was the AQUARAMA (ex- Marine Star). She was converted by Todd Shipyards Corp. at Brooklyn, New York and Sand Products Corp. at Muskegon, Michigan. The AQUARAMA (name was selected by the winner in a contest) was the biggest passenger vessel on the Great Lakes. It was 520' long (almost a city block), seven stories high, 71' 6" at the beam. It displaced 10,600 tons (the same as a Navy cruiser), and had a 21 1/2' 10-ton bronze propeller with a 22" diameter steel drive shaft. Its speed was rated at 9,000 HP, and its cruising speed was a swift 22 knots. It may have been transformed into the Aquarama, but it was built for ocean travel and spaces. That fact would prove to be a problem as it tried to navigate the Great Lakes ports. | |