USNS Private Frank J. Petrarca (T-AK-250)

History

United States
Name:	Long Splice Private Frank J. Petrarca
Namesake:	Long splice Frank J. Petrarca, awarded the Medal of Honor
Ordered:	as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2329
Builder:	Consolidated Steel Corporation, Long Beach, California
Laid down:	18 April 1945 as MV Long Splice
Launched:	7 August 1945
Sponsored by:	Mrs. Eloi J. Amar
Completed:	20 September 1945
In service:	date unknown, as USAT Private Frank J. Petrarca 1 March 1950, as USNS Private Frank J. Petrarca (T-AK-250)
Out of service:	9 April 1959
Struck:	15 October 1973
Identification:	Hull symbol:T-AK-250
Honors and awards:	National Defense Service Medal
Fate:	sold for non-transportation use, 28 December 1977, to General Auto Wrecking Co., for $68,010.00 resold to Trident Seafoods Co., converted to a fish processing ship, rename MV Arctic Producer Renamed MV Arctic Enterprise in 1991
Status:	active as a fish processing factory ship
Notes:	U.S. Official Number: 248169^[1] The vessel was placed again in service on 7 April 1960 by Military Sealift Command for an unknown length of time for duty in the Antarctic.
General characteristics
Class and type:	Alamosa-class cargo ship (originally planned)
Type:	C1-M-AV1
Tonnage:	3,805 GRT^[1]
Displacement:	7,450 tons full load^[2]
Length:	388 feet 8 inches (118.5 m)^[2]
Beam:	50 feet (15.2 m)^[2]
Draft:	21 feet 1 inch (6.4 m)^[2]
Propulsion:	1 × Nordberg Diesel diesel TSM 6 engine 1 × shaft^[2]
Speed:	11.5 knots (13.2 mph; 21.3 km/h)^[2]
Armament:	none

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

Built in Long Beach, California

Private Frank J. Petrarca was laid down as Long Splice (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 U.S. Maritime Commission, thence to Lykes Brothers, 20 September 1945.

As Long Splice, the cargo ship was operated by Lykes Brothers under General Agency Agreement until returned to the U.S. Maritime Commission and transferred to the War Department, 29 August 1946.

U.S. Army service

Renamed Private Frank J. Petrarca, 31 October 1947, she operated with the Army Transportation Service until again transferred, to the Navy, 1 July 1950.

U.S. Navy service

Placed in service, with the designation T–AK–250 on 6 July 1950, she was assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) and served the Mid-Pacific Ocean area until 1959.

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.

Reacquired by the Navy on the latter date, she was again assigned to MSTS, under which she resumed cargo carrying duties between Pacific Ocean ports. In 1962, she participated in a cost and feasibility study of year round ocean service in Alaskan waters.

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.

Final inactivation

She was struck from the Navy List on 15 October 1973 and subsequently sold on 1 December 1977, her ultimate fate unknown.

Honors and awards

Qualified vessel personnel were authorized the following:

National Defense Service Medal

References

Bibliography

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - T-AK-250 Pvt. Frank J. Petrarca

Type C1-M ships

Type C1-M-AV1	Alamosa Alcona Acorn Knot / Sgt. George D Keathley Amador Anchor Bend Anchor Hitch Antrim Autauga Beaverhead Becket Bend / Private John F. Thorson Becket Hitch Bell Ringer / Captain Arlo L. Olson Beltrami Bight Knot Blackwall Hitch Blount Boatswain's Hitch Bowline Knot Brevard Bullock Buntline Hitch Cabell Cable Splice Caledonia Cape Somerset Cape Stanhope Capstan Knot Carrick Bend Cat's Paw Chain and Crown Charlevoix Chatham Check Knot / Sgt. Joseph E. Muller Chicot Cinch Knot Claiborne Clarion Clove Hitch Coastal Captain Coastal Charger Coastal Courser Coastal Crusader Coastal Guide / Sgt. George Peterson Coastal Mariner Coastal Monarch Coastal Monitor Coastal Rambler Coastal Ranger Coastal Telegrapher Codington Colquitt Craighead Crossing Hitch Crown and Diamond Crown Knot Diamond Hitch Diamond Knot Doddridge Double Loop Dragon Fly Duval Elmer J. Burr Emerald Knot Fairfield Faribault Fentress Fiador Knot Fisherman's Bend Flagler Flemish Knot Gadsden Glacier Grainger Grass Knot Gunner's Knot Gwinnett Habersham Half Hitch Half Knot Harold W. Roberts Hawser Bend Hawser Eye Hawser Splice Hennepin Herkimer Hickory Bay Hickory Beck Hickory Bourne Hickory Brae Hickory Brook Hickory Burn Hickory Cairn Hickory Cape Hickory Coll Hickory Crest Hickory Dale Hickory Dell Hickory Dyke Hickory Ghyll Hickory Glen Hickory Isle Hickory Knoll Hickory Lake Hickory Mount Hickory Stream Hickory Tarn Hickory Tor Hidalgo Honda Knot Hook Hitch Horseshoe Splice Jacob's Ladder Jumper Hitch Kenneth E. Gruennert / Grommet Reefer Kenosha Knob Knot Lancaster Lanyard Knot Leader Loop Lebanon Lehigh Lever's Bend Lewis Hall Link Splice / Sgt. Jonah E. Kelley Lock Knot Long Eye Long Splice / Private Frank J. Petrarca Loop Knot Magnus Hitch Maiden's Eye / Colonel William J. O'Brien Mainsheet Eye Manrope Knot Marengo Mariner's Splice Marline Hitch Marlingspike Hitch Masthead Knot Midland Minidoka Mooring Hitch Mooring Knot Muscatine Muskingum Nicollet Ocean Plat Pembina Pemiscot Phoebe Knot Pinellas Pipestone Pitkin Poinsett Pontotoc Reef Knot Reeving Eye Richland Rigger's Eye Ring Hitch Ring Knot Ring Splice Roband Hitch Rockdale Rolling Hitch Rose Knot Round Splice / Private Jose F. Valdez Running Knot Sailmaker's Splice Sailor's Splice Salmon Knot Sampan Hitch Schuyler Screven Sebastian Shamrock Knot Sheepshank Sheet Bend Shell Bar Short Splice Sinnet Snakehead Snug Hitch Somerset / Coastal Sentry Span Splice Spanish Bowline Spar Hitch Spindle Eye / Sgt. Curtis F. Shoup Spool Sinnet Square Knot Square Sinnet Star Knot Studding Sail Sussex Sword Knot Tag Knot Tapir Splice Tarrant Terminal Knot Thimble Eye Timber Hitch Tipton Traverse True Knot Tucked Bend Tulare Turk's Head Wall Knot Water Knot Westchester William G. Fournier William N. Nelson Yard Hitch

Type C1-M-AV7	Coastal Liberator

Type C1-M-AV8	Crossing Knot Flat Knot Marline Bend Persian Knot Single Hitch Solid Sinnet

Type C1-MT-BU1	Arizona Pine California Redwood Oregon Fir Washington Cedar

Alamosa-class cargo ship

Alamosa Alcona Amador Antrim Autauga Beaverhead Beltrami Blount Brevard Bullock Cabell Caledonia Charlevoix Chatham Chicot Claiborne Clarion Codington Colquitt Craighead Dodridge^* Duval^* Fairfield Faribault Fentress Flagler Gadsden Glacier Grainger Gwinnett Habersham Hennepin Herkimer Hidalgo Kenosha Lebanon Lehigh Lancaster Marengo Midland Minidoka Muscatine Muskingum Nicollet Pembina Pemiscot Pinellas Pipestone Pitkin Poinsett Pontotoc Richland Rockdale Schuyler Screven Sebastian Somerset / Coastal Sentry Sussex Tarrant Tipton Traverse^* Tulate^* Washtenaw^** / Sgt. George Peterson Westchester^* Wexford^† / Coastal Crusader Maiden's Eye / Colonel William J. O'Brien Becket Bend / Private John F. Thorson Short Splice Long Splice / Private Frank J. Petrarca

* = Canceled August 1945 ** = Canceled August 1945, but completed as Coastal Guide † = Canceled August 1945, but completed as Coastal Crusader List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy

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