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Cargo Ships Cargo vessels are discussed under two classifications based on the type of cargo carried - dry or liquid. The principal types of dry cargo vessels are the C-types, the Victory, the Mariner, and new ships being built by American steamship companies on the "build and replace basis." A few examples of new ships are Moore-McCurmack Lines (C3-S-33a), Lykes Bros. Steamship Co. (C3-S-37a), American Export Lines (C3-S-38a and 46a), Mississippi Shipping Co. (C3-S-43a), and States Steamship Co. (C4-S-1u). C-TYPES C-type cargo vessels consist of several modifications of the basic wartime-built C1, C2, C3, and C4 designs. (See chapter 5 for meanings of letter-number designators and classification groups.) It should perhaps be emphasized that the C-types are the best vessels of the dry cargo designs now in the merchant fleet. Almost all of those available are in commercial use except ships that would require extensive conversions from their military design. C1 There are three basic types of C1s: C1A, CIB, and Cl-M-AV1. The C1s are the smallest of the C-types, having approximately 18 percent less cargo space than the Victory. They are of good basic design and usually are used commercially in the Central and South American trade. MSTS has designed and built three ice-strengthened C1 class vessels; the design type was Cl-ME2-13a. They are diesel propelled and designed for arctic resupply. 
The C1A and C1B have raked stems and cruiser sterns. The quarters accommodate eight passengers in four staterooms. Deep banks are installed at the forward end of No. 1 hold. The machinery is located amidships. The C1A design is a shelter deck vessel and the C1B design is a full scantling vessel. Both designs are powered by either cross compound turbines or diesel engines. The Cl-M-AV1 was designed to meet the need for coastwise vessels. Its size allows the use of a smaller diesel engine as a propulsion unit. Seventeen of the vessels were built as reefers by the Maritime Commission and designated R1-M-AV3. The Cl-M-AV1 is a full scantling vessel with a raked stem and a cruiser stern. The propelling machinery located aft consists of a diesel engine directly connected to a single screw. C2 The C2 is one of the most numerous of the C-types used for general cargo. There are several design variations of the type, the most numerous of which are the C2-S-B1 and the C2-S-AJ1. The R2-S-BV1, which is a refrigerated cargo ship, is a conversion of the C2. The C2 is a shelter deck type of vessel with a raked stem and cruiser stern. The quarters accommodate 12 passengers. Propelling machinery consists of cross compound turbines geared to a single screw. The ma chinery and boilers are located in one compartment amidships. C3 The C3 cargo vessel is a type in general use by American shipping companies. It has about 40 percent more cargo space than the C2 and can be used more economically for large cargoes in worldwide trade. The C3 is a shelter deck type ship with raked stem and cruiser stern. The quarters can accommodate 12 passengers. Some have four deep tanks in No. 2 hold. Propelling MILITARY SEA TRANSPORTATION SERVICE machinery consists of cross compound turbines geared to a single screw. Machinery and boilers a C4 The majority of C4s built in World War II were converted to troopships. Following the war, most of these were placed in the reserve fleet without their being reconverted to cargo vessels. The sale of surplus C-type ships after the war was practically limited to U.S. citizens except for the few offered for sale to our allies in compensation for war losses. The building of a C4-S-1a class of cargo vessel was authorized in 1951. This type ship bears the class name "Mariner" in conjunction with state nicknames, such as Keystone Mariner, Hawkeye Mariner, and the like. These vessels are of about 13,000 deadweight tons with a service speed of 20 knots. Victory Ships The Victory ship is a full scantling type ship with a raked stem and cruiser stern. Deep tanks are installed abreast of and up to the top of the shaft alley in No. 4 and No. 5 holds. Propelling machinery consists of cross compound turbines geared to a single screw. Machinery and boilers are located in one compartment amidships. Victory-type C4 ships are used by the Navy as APAs. 
There are two classes of the Victory type: the AP2 design, with a normal shaft horsepower of 6000; and the AP3 design, having a normal shp of 8500. Refrigerated Ships Reefers built by the Maritime Commission include the C2-SU, R2-S-BV1, R2-ST-AV1, R1-S-DH1, and R1-M-AV3/C1-M-AV1. Cargo carrying capacities vary considerably. The R1-M-AV3 bale capacity of refrigerated cargo, for example, is 103,420 cubic feet; that for the R2-S-BV1 is 347,400 cubic feet; and the C2-SU has about 384,000 cubic feet. The R2s and the R1-S-DH1 are the only ships of this group presently in operation. Tankers  MSTS is concerned principally with the T2s, the T5s, and the 32,000 dwt tankers. The T-design tankers consist of the following main types: 1. The T1-M-A1 and T1-M-A2, small coastal tankers of 17,000 bbl. capacity. 2. The T1-M-BT1 and BT2, small coastal tankers of 31,000 bb. capacity. 3. The T2-SE-A1 and A2, the standard 141,000 bbl. tankers. 4. The T5-S-Rm2a of about 170,000 bbl. Other T5s carry up to 190,000 bb. (NOTE: A conversion table can be used to determine the number of barrels of different types of products contained in a ton.) The largest tankers under United States registry are the Manhattan, 106,500 tons; Esso Houston, 67,879 tons; Western Hunter, 67m208 tons; and the National Defender, 67,400 tons. An example of a moderate-sized, fast tanker is the 20-knot American Explorer, a T5-S-RM2a that was built in 1959 for operation by MSTS. Source: "Military Sea Transportation Service", U.S. Government Publication, 1967. Prepared by Bureau of Naval Personnel. |
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