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Marquette / Neshanic
See also : 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.
The Miramar Ship Index for "MARQEUTTE"
IDNo:
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5234395
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Year:
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1943
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Name:
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MARQEUTTE
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Keel:
|
|
Type:
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Tanker
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Launch Date:
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31.10.1942
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Flag:
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USA
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Date of completion:
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20.02.1943
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Tons:
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10350
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Link:
|
-
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DWT:
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16100
|
Yard No:
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4381
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Length overall:
|
152.9
|
Ship Design:
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T3-S-A1
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LPP:
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148.6
|
Country of build:
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USA
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Beam:
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20.7
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Builder:
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Bethlehem
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Material of build:
|
|
Location of yard:
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Sparrow's Point
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Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):
|
1ST-15
|
|
|
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
|
Change
|
Main Owner
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AO-71
|
|
5234395
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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.
|
251093
|
5234395
|
5234395
|
1943
|
AMERICAN VICTORY
|
13167
|
2017
|
Algoma Central Corp.
|
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.
|
December 21, 2017 by gCaptain
Ontario-based Algoma Central Corporation (TSX: ALC) today said it has reached an agreement to purchase four U.S.-flag ‘lakers’ from American Steamship Company.
In doing so, all four ships will be re-registered to the Canadian flag.
The vessels being acquired are the M.V. Buffalo, the M.V. Adam E. Cornelius, the S.S. American Valor and the S.S. American Victory.
The company said both the Buffalo and the Adam E. Cornelius will provide efficient capacity to serve customers in the river-class segment of the domestic dry bulk market. Both ships will join Algoma’s existing fleet shipping salt, aggregates, and other commodities.
As for the older American Victory and American Valor, originally built in 1943 and 1953, respectively, the company said it has plans to re-power them as motor vessels, converted to articulated tug barges, or have their forebodies mated with modern sterns, although these plans have not yet been confirmed.
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"USS Neshanic (AO-71)" inbound in San Francisco Bay passing under the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, date unknown.
"USS Neshanic (AO-71)" at San Francisco in November 1945 during her voyage from the Western Pacific to Norfolk for disposal.( Photo Collection Robert Hurst )
"Gulfoil", ex. "USS Neshanic (AO-71)".
( Photo courtesy of Photoship )
"Gulfoil", ex. "USS Neshanic (AO-71)".
"Gulfoil", ex. "USS Neshanic (AO-71)".
"Gulfoil", ex. "USS Neshanic (AO-71)", on fire.
"Gulfoil", ex. "USS Neshanic (AO-71)", burning 07-08-1958 after collision, at harbor entrance of Newport, RI.
( Copyright reserved )
( Copyright reserved )
"Gulfoil", ex. "USS Neshanic (AO-71)", on fire.( Copyright reserved )
Additional information :
Registry & Rig Information
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||
Vessel Name:
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USS NESHANIC (AO-71)
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Nationality
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U.S.
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Official Number:
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U.S. NAVY
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Rig:
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Propeller
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Dimensions & Tonnage
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|||
Vessel Length:
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488.25
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Gross Tonnage:
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10340.00
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Vessel Width:
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68.25
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Net Tonnage:
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6301.00
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Vessel Height
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36.75
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Hull Material:
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Steel
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Masts:
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|
Hull Number:
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04381
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Builder Information
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||||
Place of Built:
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Sparrows Point, MD
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|||
Builder:
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Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard, Inc.
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|||
Date of Built
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1943
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|||
Name Changes
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||||
Vessel Name:
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Date:
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Registry
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Official #
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GULFOIL
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1947 - 1961
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U.S.
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251093
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PIONEER CHALLENGER
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1961 - 1962
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U.S.
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251093
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MIDDLETOWN
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1962
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U.S.
|
251093
|
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Ownership Changes
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||||
Owner Name
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Date
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Registry
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Official #
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U.S. Maritime Commission
Washington, DC U.S.
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1942 - 1943
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U.S.
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U.S. NAVY
|
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U.S. Navy
Washington, DC U.S.
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1943 - 1947
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U.S.
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U.S. NAVY
|
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Gulf Oil Co.
Philadelphia, PA U.S.
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1947 - 1958
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U.S.
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251093
|
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Maryland Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co.
Baltimore, MD U.S.
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1958 - 1960
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U.S.
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251093
|
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Pioneer Steamship Co. (Hutchinson & Co., Mgrs.)
Cleveland, OH U.S.
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1960 - 1962
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U.S.
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251093
|
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Columbia Transportation Co.
Cleveland, OH U.S.
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1962
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U.S.
|
251093
|
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ReBuilt History
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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.
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History
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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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