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USNS Sgt. George Peterson

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Cargo ship of the United States Navy
History
United States
Name
  • Coastal Guide
  • Washtenaw
NamesakeWashtenaw County, Michigan
Orderedas type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2172
BuilderLeathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Yard number338
Laid down9 March 1945
Launched13 May 1945
Sponsored byMrs. L. R. Sanford
CommissionedDelivered to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) prior to commissioning, 16 July 1945
IdentificationUS Official Number: 248,682
United States
NameCoastal Guide
OwnerMARCOM
Operator
Acquired16 July 1945
In service17 December 1945
Out of service22 June 1948
FateDelivered to the Army Transport Service (ATS), 23 June 1948
United States
NameSgt. George Peterson
NamesakeGeorge Peterson (Medal of Honor), awarded Medal of Honor
OperatorATS
Acquired23 June 1948
Out of service1 March 1950
IdentificationHull symbol: AK-248
FateTransferred to the US Navy, 1 March 1950
United States
NameSgt. George Peterson
OperatorMSTS
Acquired1 March 1950
In service1 March 1950
Out of service27 March 1959
Stricken1966
IdentificationHull symbol: T-AK-248
FateSold, 15 December 1971
United States
NameMarsha Lynn
OwnerJohn E. Marsh, Brooksville, Florida
Acquired17 February 1972
FateSold, 1979
United States
NameAl-Ind-Esk-A Sea
OwnerTransAlaska Fisheries Corp., The 13th Regional Corporation
Acquired1979
Refitconverted to Fish Factory Ship
IdentificationIMO number: 7947386
FateDestroyed by fire, 20 October 1982
General characteristics
Class and typeAlamosa-class cargo ship
TypeC1-M-AV1
Tonnage5,032 long tons deadweight (DWT)
Displacement
  • 2,382 long tons (2,420 t) (standard)
  • 7,450 long tons (7,570 t) (full load)
Length388 ft 8 in (118.47 m)
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft21 ft 1 in (6.43 m)
Installed power
Propulsion1 × propeller
Speed11.5 kn (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Capacity
  • 3,945 t (3,883 long tons) DWT
  • 9,830 cu ft (278 m) (refrigerated)
  • 227,730 cu ft (6,449 m) (non-refrigerated)
Complement
  • 15 Officers
  • 70 Enlisted

USNS Sgt. George Peterson (T-AK-248) was a US Maritime Administration (MARCOM) C1-M-AV1 type coastal cargo ship, originally planned as an Alamosa-class cargo ship. The contract for building was canceled by the Navy in August 1945. The ship, however, was completed as SS Coastal Guide. She was later acquired by the US Army, in 1948, and renamed USAT Sgt. George Peterson. She was reacquired by the Navy, in 1950, and placed in service by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS Sgt. George Peterson (T-AK-248). She remained with the Navy until struck in 1966. She was sold in 1971.

Construction

Sgt. George Peterson, originally projected as USS Washtenaw (AK-218), but built as Coastal Guide, was laid down under a MARCOM contract, MC hull 2172, on 9 March 1945 by the Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; launched on 13 May 1945; sponsored by Mrs. L. R. Sanford; and delivered to the War Shipping Administration on 16 July 1945.

Service history

Subsequently, operated by the United Fruit Company and the Polaris Steamship Company, Inc., Coastal Guide was transferred to the US Army on 23 June 1948; renamed Sgt. George Peterson (AK-248). and operated by the Army Transportation Service (ATS).

She was transferred to the Navy in July 1950 and placed in service as USNS Sgt. George Peterson (T-AK-248). The cargo ship then commenced eight years of operations in the Gulf of Mexico, in the Caribbean, and along the southeastern seaboard of the United States for the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS). During that period, she interrupted her regular service only once—to carry supplies north to arctic stations in the summer of 1955.

Early in 1959, the AK was ordered inactivated; and, in March, she was placed out of service at New Orleans, Louisiana. At mid-month, she was towed to Mobile, Alabama, where, on the 27th, she was transferred to the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) and berthed with the National Defense Reserve Fleet. She remained in reserve at Mobile until sold for non-transportation use in December 1971.

Private service

On 15 December 1971, she was sold to John E. Marsh, Brooksville, Florida, for $41,000. She was sold under the condition that she wouldn't be used for transportation. She was converted into a private yacht and renamed Marsha Lynn.

In 1979 she was sold to TransAlaska Fisheries Corporation, a subsidiary of The 13th Regional Corporation, and renamed Al-Ind-Esk-A Sea. She was converted into a Fish Factory Ship. On 20 October 1982, she caught fire while undergoing repairs in Port Gardner, Everett, Washington. She burned for two days before rolling over at 10:14 am, 22 October 1982, and sinking in 240 ft (73 m) of water. The owners collected a $14 million insurance claim.

The wreck is located at: 47°59.032′N 122°14.772′W / 47.983867°N 122.246200°W / 47.983867; -122.246200

Notes

Citations
  1. ^ C1 Cargo Ships 2009.
  2. ^ MARAD.
  3. ^ Navsource 2016.
  4. ^ DANFS 2015.
  5. Muhlstein 2012.
  6. Boyd.

Bibliography

Online resources

External links

  • Photo gallery of USS Sgt. George Peterson (T-AK-248) at NavSource Naval History
Alamosa-class cargo ships
  • * = Canceled August 1945
  • ** = Canceled August 1945, but completed as Coastal Guide
  • † = Canceled August 1945, but completed as Coastal Crusader
Type C1-M ships
Type C1-M-AV1
Type C1-M-AV7
Type C1-M-AV8
Type C1-MT-BU1
Ships built by Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Tacoma-class frigates
PC-461-class submarine chasers
Alamosa-class cargo ships
Type C1-M-AV1 ships
Net laying ships
  • * = Canceled August 1945, but completed as Coastal Merchant
  • ** = Canceled August 1945, but completed as Coastal Challenger
  • † = Canceled August 1945, but completed as Coastal Guide
  • # = Canceled August 1945, but completed as Coastal Defender
  • ‡ = Canceled August 1945, but completed as Coastal Crusader
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