Type C4-class ship

USS Haven (AH-12), an example of a Type C4 ship, seen here in 1954.
Class overview
Builders:	Kaiser Shipyards of Richmond, California Kaiser Shipyards of Vancouver, Washington Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. of Chester, Pennsylvania Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard of Sparrows Point, Maryland
Operators:	United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM)
Preceded by:	Type C3 class ship
Subclasses:	Six
Completed:	81
General characteristics
Type:	C4-S-A1 troop transport (30 built) C4-S-A3 troop transport (15 built) C4-S-A4 cargo ship (16 built) C4-S-B1 tank carrier (one built) C4-S-B 2 troop transport/hospital ship (14 built) C4-S-B5 cargo/troop transport (five built)
Tonnage:	12,420 gross tons (A1-A4) 11,757 gross tons (B1-B5)
Length:	523 ft (159 m)(A1-A4) 520 ft (160 m) (B1-B5)
Beam:	71.6 ft (21.8 m)
Draft:	29 ft (8.8 m) (A1-A4) 30 ft (9.1 m) (B1-B5)
Propulsion:	Steam turbine 9,900 shp
Speed:	17 knots
Range:	12,000 miles (A1-A4) 14,000 miles (B1-B5)
Complement:	Varied by design type

The Type C4 class ship were the largest cargo ships built by the United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) during World War II. The design was originally developed for the American-Hawaiian Lines in 1941, but in late 1941 the plans were taken over by the MARCOM.

Eighty-one ships were built as cargo or troopships in four shipyards: Kaiser Richmond, CA (35 ships), Kaiser Vancouver, WA (20 ships), Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock in Chester PA (20 ships) and Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point MD (6 ships).

All ships were capable of 17 knots, driven by a single screw steam turbine generating 9,900 shp.

Among the variations of the design were the Haven class hospital ship.

They were followed post-war by thirty-seven of the larger C4-S-1 class, also known as the Mariner class.^[1]

List of Type C4 class ships

General series

• USS General G. O. Squier (AP-130)
• USS General T. H. Bliss (AP-131)
• USS General J. R. Brooke (AP-132)
• USS General O. H. Ernst (AP-133)
• USS General R. L. Howze (AP-134)
• USS General W. M. Black (AP-135)
• USS General H. L. Scott (AP-136)
• USS General S. D. Sturgis (AP-137)
• USS General C. G. Morton (AP-138)
• USS General R. E. Callan (AP-139), later USNS General H. H. Arnold (T-AGM-9)
• USS General M. B. Stewart (AP-140)
• USS General A. W. Greely (AP-141)
• USS General C. H. Muir (AP-142)
• USS General H. B. Freeman (AP-143)
• USS General H. F. Hodges (AP-144)
• USS General Harry Taylor (AP-145), later USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg (T-AGM-10)
• USS General W. F. Hase (AP-146)
• USS General E. T. Collins (AP-147)
• USS General M. L. Hersey (AP-148)
• USS General J. H. McRae (AP-149)
• USS General M. M. Patrick (AP-150)
• USS General W. C. Langfitt (AP-151)
• USS General Omar Bundy (AP-152)
• USS General R. M. Blatchford (AP-153)
• USS General LeRoy Eltinge (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)

Marine series

• USNS Marine Adder (T-AP-193)
• SS Marine Angel
• SS Marine Arrow
• SS Marine Cardinal
• USNS Marine Carp (T‑AP‑199)
• SS Marine Devil
• SS Marine Dragon
• SS Marine Eagle (acquired by the U.S. Army and renamed Private Leonard C. Brostrom)
• SS Marine Falcon
• USNS Marine Fiddler (T-AK-267)
• SS Marine Flasher
• SS Marine Flier
• SS Marine Fox
• SS Marine Jumper
• SS Marine Leopard
• USNS Marine Lynx (T-AP-194)
• SS Marine Marlin
• SS Marine Panther
• SS Marine Perch
• USNS Marine Phoenix (T-AP-195)
• SS Marine Raven
• SS Marine Robin
• SS Marine Runner
• USNS Marine Serpent (T-AP-202)
• SS Marine Shark
• SS Marine Snapper
• SS Marine Star
• SS Marine Swallow
• SS Marine Tiger
• SS Marine Wolf

Mount series

• SS Mount Davis
• SS Mount Greylock
• SS Mount Mansfield
• SS Mount Rogers
• SS Mount Whitney

Named after a person

• SS Scott E. Land
• SS Willis Vickery
• SS Louis McH. Howe
• SS Ernie Pyle

Hospital ships

• USS Haven (AH-12) (laid down as Marine Hawk)
• USS Benevolence (AH-13) (laid down as Marine Lion)
• USS Tranquility (AH-14) (laid down as Marine Dolphin)
• USS Consolation (AH-15) (laid down as Marine Walrus)
• USS Repose (AH-16) (laid down as Marine Beaver)
• USS Sanctuary  (AH-17) (laid down as Marine Owl)

"M" class ships

Four cargo/passenger liners were built for the Grace Line 1963-1964 by Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point as class C4-S-49a.^[2]

• SS Santa Magdelena
• SS Santa Mariana
• SS Santa Maria
• SS Santa Mercedes (Later TS Patriot State)

"Jet" class ships

The last two C4 ships were constructed in 1966 for the Prudential Lines, also by Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point as class C4-S-49b.^[2]

• SS Prudential Seajet
• SS Prudential Oceanjet

See also

• Type C1 ship
• Type C2 ship
• Type C3 ship
• T2 tanker
• Liberty ship
• Victory ship
• Hog Islander
• U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

References

Notes and citations

1. ↑ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/mariner.htm
2. 1 2 Colton, Tim. "Yardlist for Bethlehem Steel Company, Sparrows Point MD". Shipbuilding History. www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016. 

Bibliography

• American Merchant Marine at War - C4 ships
• US Maritime Commission Details and Outboard Profiles of Maritime Commission Vessels, The C4 Cargo Ship, Conversions and Subdesigns
• US Maritime Commission overview
• US Maritime Commission - Technical Specifications for Ships including definitions of terms
• From America to United States: The History of the long-range Merchant Shipbuilding Programme of the United States Maritime Commission, by L.A. Sawyer and W.H. Mitchell. London, 1981, World Ship Society
• Ships for Victory: A History of Shipbuilding under the U.S. Maritime Commission in World War II, by Frederic C. Lane ISBN 0-8018-6752-5

External links