USNS Private John F. Thorson (T-AK-247)

USNS Private John F. Thorson (T-AK-247) was a US Maritime Administration (MARCOM) C1-M-AV1 type coastal cargo ship, originally planned as an Alamosa-class cargo ship. Constructed as Becket Bend for MARCOM, completed in August 1945 and placed in operation by the War Shipping Administration. However, the war ended, and she was transferred to the US Army as USAT Private John F. Thorson who kept her in service until transferred to the US Navy in 1950. She was struck in 1960, ending her military career.

History
United States
Name: Becket Bend
Namesake: Becket bend
Ordered: as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2486[1]
Builder: Southeastern Shipbuilding Corporation, Savannah, Georgia
Yard number: AV2[1]
Laid down: 8 January 1945
Launched: 26 February 1945
Sponsored by: Mrs. L. S. deSevilla
Commissioned: delivered to the Maritime Commission (MARCOM) prior to commissioning, 6 July 1945
Identification: Hull symbol: AK-247 (never received number)
Fate: transferred to the War Shipping Administration (WSA), 23 July 1946
United States
Name:
  • Becket Bend
  • Private John F. Thorson
Namesake: John F. Thorson, awarded Medal of Honor during WWII
Owner: WSA
Operator: US Army
Acquired: 25 July 1946
In service: 25 July 1946
Out of service: 1 March 1950
Renamed: 31 October 1947
Fate: transferred to the US Navy, 1 March 1950
United States
Name: Private John F. Thorson
Owner: US Navy
Operator: Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS)
Acquired: 1 March 1950
In service: 1 March 1950
Out of service: 1954
Stricken: 1 October 1958
Identification: Hull symbol: T-AK-247
Fate: transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 29 August 1960
United States
Name: Private John F. Thorson
Owner: MARAD
Acquired: 29 August 1960
Fate: sold for scrapping, 29 August 1960
General characteristics [2]
Class and type: Alamosa-class cargo ship
Type: C1-M-AV1
Tonnage: 5,032 long tons deadweight (DWT)[1]
Displacement:
  • 2,382 long tons (2,420 t) (standard)
  • 7,450 long tons (7,570 t) (full load)
Length: 388 ft 8 in (118.47 m)
Beam: 50 ft (15 m)
Draft: 21 ft 1 in (6.43 m)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 1 × propeller
Speed: 11.5 kn (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Capacity:
  • 3,945 t (3,883 long tons) DWT
  • 9,830 cu ft (278 m3) (refrigerated)
  • 227,730 cu ft (6,449 m3) (non-refrigerated)
Complement:
  • 15 Officers
  • 70 Enlisted
Armament:

Construction

Becket Bend was laid down under MARCOM contract, MC hull 2486, by the Southeastern Shipbuilding Corporation, Savannah, Georgia on 8 January 1945; launched 26 February 1945; sponsored by Mrs. L. S. deSevilla; and delivered via MARCOM to Moore–McCormack Lines, Inc., 6 July 1945.[3]

As Becket Bend, the cargo ship was operated by Moore–McCormack under General Agency Agreement (GAA). Title for the ship was transferred from the War Shipping Administration to the Army 23 July 1954 and the actual transfer to custody took place two days later at New Orleans, Louisiana.[3]

US Army service

Renamed Private John F. Thorson 31 October 1947, she operated as an Army Transportation Service ship until transferred to the Navy 1 March 1950.[3]

US Navy service

Placed in service as T–AK–247, she was assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) and operated from Gulf ports until 1954. Transferred to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Charleston Group, she decommissioned 2 August 1954 and was struck from the Navy List 1 October 1958.[3]

Final inactivation

Private John F. Thorson remained at Charleston until transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) 29 August 1960. The same day she was sold to Hugo New Steel Products, New York City, for scrap.[3]

Notes
    Citations
    1. C1 Cargo Ships 2009.
    2. Navsource 2015.
    3. DANFS 2015.

    Bibliography

    Online resources

    • "Private John F. Thorson". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
    • "C1 Cargo Ships". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
    • "USNS Pvt John F. Thorson (T-AK-247)". Navsource.org. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
    • Photo gallery of USS Private John F. Thorson(AK-247) at NavSource Naval History


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