Type C4 ship

in the early 1950s General series C4-S-A1 DWT: 14,863. Built by Kaiser Shipyards at Permanente No. 3 in Richmond, California, for the US Army Transportation Corps then transferred later to the US Navy. The 30 ships were built from 1942 to 1945. Sun Shipbuilding of Chester, Pennsylvania, originally had a contract to build 30 of the C4 ships. The USMC prioritized Sun's expertise in building urgently needed T2-SE-A1 tankers and withdrew 20 C4s from Sun and assigned them to Kaiser's Richmond, California yard. Kaiser's C4 troop ship construction became Navy troop ships ("General" names), Sun's became WSA troopships operated by commercial agents. In the 1960 the Navy sold off most of the General ships to private companies. Most were scrapped in the 1980s. • • • • • • • • • • , later a missile range instrumentation ship • • • • • • , later • • • • • • • went missing in 1980. • • • • • • • Marine series C4-S-B1, C4-S-B2, C4-S-B5 ships built for troop and cargo transport. Marine series C4 ships were operated by the War Shipping Administration (WSA) through commercial companies acting as agents during World War II. Others became Navy hospital ships. Sun Shipbuilding of Chester, Pennsylvania, originally had a contract to build 30 of the C4 ships. The USMC prioritized Sun's expertise in building urgently needed T2-SE-A1 tankers and withdrew 20 C4s from Sun and assigned them to Kaiser's Richmond, California yard. • SS Marine Hawk - Became , later sold and converted to chemical carrier. • SS Marine Lion - Became later was in collision and sunk in 1950. • SS Marine Owl - Became hospital ship . C4-S-B5 (Sun) Built by Sun Ships in 1945. • - Cargo ship, WSA, agent Agwilines Inc, 31 August 1945 — 23 May 1946, laid up Suisun Bay with brief periods of maintenance until 10 December 1952 transfer to Military Sea Transportation Service. MSTS/MSC as USNS until 14 September 1973 lay up in James River, Reserve Fleet. Sold for scrap 2003. • SS Marine Flier - Cargo ship, WSA, agent American President Lines, 19 May 1945 — July 1946 then commercially operated under charter until title transferred 19 February 1951. Sold May 1955, renamed Keystone State. Delivered for scrapping Taiwan 8 January 1972. • SS Marine Arrow - Cargo ship, WSA, agent American Hawaiian SS Co., 18 June 1945 — August 1946 then commercially operated under charter until sold 31 January 1951. Sold May 1955, renamed Hoosier State. Delivered for scrapping Taiwan 10 November 1971. • SS Marine Runner - Cargo ship, WSA, agent American Hawaiian SS Co., 29 September 1945 — December 1946 then commercially operated under charter until title transferred 5 March 1951. Sold March 1955, renamed Wolverine State. Delivered for scrapping Taiwan 29 October 1971. • SS Marine Star - Cargo ship, WSA, agent American Hawaiian SS Co., 22 July 1945 — August 1946 then commercially operated under charter until laid up James River Reserve Fleet 15 September 1947. Sold 29 June 1951, delivered buyer December 1952 for use as "Laker". Renamed Aquarama July 1955. C4-S-A3 (Kaiser) ships built by Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond, California, in 1945 and 1946, as WSA troopship. • - sold renamed SS Transcolorado • SS Marine Perch C4-S-A3 - Completed as War Shipping Administration troop ship. Operated October 1945 — February 1946 allocated to Army requirements in Pacific and Atlantic. 1946 WSA transport requirements. Later Sold private in 1965, in collision and sank 1978. • SS Marine Swallow C4-S-A3 - Completed as War Shipping Administration troop ship. Operated November 1945 — into 1946 in Pacific. Sold private in 1965, converted to bulk carrier Missouri, Panamanian 1974 named Ogden Missouri, scrapped in 1978. • Built by Kaiser Shipyards in Vancouver, Washington, in 1945 and 1946, as WSA troopship. • SS Marine Tiger - Completed as War Shipping Administration troop ship. Operated July 1944 — into 1946 allocated to Army requirements. Pacific service, including January 1946 transport of Italian POWs to Naples from Los Angeles. Returned 20 February, released from Army requirements, one WSA operation to South Africa until placed in reserve fleet 7 May 1946. In 1966 renamed Oakland converted to container ship, scrapped Taiwan September 1973. • SS Marine Shark - Completed as War Shipping Administration troop ship. Operated September 1945 — 1946. Pacific to 21 February 1946 when sailed from San Francisco to France for operations in Atlantic. Sold private 1968 renamed Charleston converted to container ship, later scrapped. • SS Marine Cardinal - Completed as War Shipping Administration troop ship. Operated September 1945 — April 1946 returning troops to U.S. from Asia. Sold private in 1964 renamed Baltimore and converted to container ship, later scrapped. • SS Marine Falcon - Completed as War Shipping Administration troop ship. Operated September 1945 — May 1946 returning troops from Asia including India. Sold private in 1966 renamed Trenton converted to container ship, later scrapped • SS Marine Flasher - Completed as War Shipping Administration troop ship. Operated September 1945 — April 1946 returning troops from Asia and northern Europe. Also used to bring displaced persons to America. Sold private 1966 renamed Long Beach converted to container ship, later scrapped • SS Marine Jumper (T-AP-200) - Completed as War Shipping Administration troop ship. Operated October 1945 — May 1946 in Pacific. Sold private 1966 renamed Panama converted to container ship, later scrapped. • USNS Marine Serpent (T-AP-202) - Completed as War Shipping Administration troop ship. Operated October 1945 — July 1946 in Pacific. 8 May 1952 became Military Sea Transportation Service USNS vessel to 1968. Sold to private in 1968 renamed Galveston converted to container ship, later scrapped. • SS Ernie Pyle WSA troopship, used for displaced persons (DPs) refugees after World War II, sold private in 1965, scrapped in 1978. • - Completed as War Shipping Administration troop ship. Operated November 1945 — 1946 returning troops to U.S. from Europe, Asia and lastly Barbados. • - Completed as War Shipping Administration troop ship. Operated December 1945 — May 1946 in Pacific. Commercial operators and reserve fleet to 1950 when operated by Military Sea Transportation Service then layup 1958. Commercial as Transcolumbia 1967 — October 1968 when transferred to Military Sealift Command. Scrapped 1988. • - Completed as War Shipping Administration troop ship. Operated December 1945 — April 1946 Japan then Puerto Rico and Jamaica. 7 April to 21 October 1949 as U.S. Army Transport carrying refugees and displaced persons from Germany. Prospective MSTS (T-AP-201) but not acquired. Sold converted to passenger ship. In 1965 converted as dry cargo. Scrapped in 1972 • - Completed as War Shipping Administration troop ship. Operated December 1945 — 1946 in Pacific. Sold commercial renamed Yellowstone July 1965 and converted to bulk carrier. Sank 13 June 1978 off Gibraltar. C4-S-A4 (Kaiser) ships built by Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond, California, in 1946 for break bulk cargo • SS Marine Leopard - Sold private in 1951, scrapped in 1972 • SS Marine Snapper - Sold private in 1951, scrapped in 1972 Mount series C4-S-A3 as break bulk cargo ship. • Built by Kaiser Shipyards in Vancouver, Washington, in 1946. • SS Mount Davis - Sold private in 1951, scrapped in 1971. • SS Mount Greylock - Sold private in 1951, scrapped in 1971. • SS Mount Mansfield - Sold private in 1951, scrapped in 1980. • SS Mount Rogers - Sold private in 1951, scrapped in 1971. • SS Mount Whitney - Sold private in 1951, scrapped in 1971. (Seagoing cowboys ship in 1946 and 1947) Named after a person C4-S-A3 as a break bulk ship in 1946. • Built by Kaiser Shipyards in Vancouver, Washington. • SS Scott E. Land - Sold private in 1951, scrapped in 1980 • SS Willis Vickery - Sold private in 1951, scrapped in 1979 • SS Louis McH. Howe - Sold private in 1951, scrapped in 1980 • SS Ernie Pyle - Sold private in 1965, scrapped in 1978 Hospital ships C4-S-B2 DWT: 15,300 • Built by Sun Yards in Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1944 and 1945. • (laid down as Marine Hawk) • (laid down as Marine Lion) • (laid down as Marine Dolphin) • (laid down as Marine Walrus) • (laid down as Marine Beaver) • (laid down as Marine Owl) M-class ships C4-S-49a Four cargo/passenger liners were built for the Grace Line 1963–1964 by Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point, Maryland. • SS Santa Magdelena • SS Santa Mariana • SS Santa Maria • SS Santa Mercedes (later renamed: ) Jet-class ships C4-S-49b • Built in 1965 by Bethlehem Steel of Sparrows Point, Maryland. The last two C4 ships were constructed in 1966 for Prudential Lines. • SS Prudential Oceanjet ==Mariner-class ships==

Mariner-class break bulk ships were long with a capacity of . They have speed of . They were some of the largest and fastest ships in the world when they were completed. Built between 1952 and 1955. • C4-S-1 class • Built by Bethlehem Steel Co., SB Division, Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1952. • Old Colony Mariner • Cornhusker State Mariner • Pine Tree Mariner Converted to passenger ship, Mariposa in 1956. • Nutmeg Mariner • Wolverine Mariner • Bethlehem Steel Co., SB Division, Sparrows Point, Maryland • Free State Mariner Converted to passenger ship, Monterey in 1957. Renamed *Monte in 2006, scrapped in 2007. • Mountain Mariner • Gopher Mariner • Show Me Mariner • Sunflower Mariner • Built by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp., San Francisco, California • Golden Mariner • Built by Ingalls SB Corp., Pascagoula, Mississippi, in 1952. • Lone Star Mariner • Evergreen Mariner - Became the USN ship , an attack cargo ship. Scrapped in 2011. • Magnolia Mariner • Cotton Mariner • Pelican Mariner • Peninsula Mariner • Built by Newport News SB & DD Co., Newport News, Virginia, in 1952. • Old Dominium Mariner • Tar Heel Mariner • Volunteer Mariner • Palmetto Mariner • Cracker State Mariner • Built by New York SB Corp., Camden, New Jersey, in 1953. • Garden Mariner • Diamond Mariner - Became the USN ship , an attack transport ship. • Empire State Mariner - Became the USN ship USS Observation Island as a missile range instrumentation ship and later a missile test platform until 2014. • Prairie Mariner - Became the USN ship , an attack transport ship. • Silver Mariner • Built by Sun SB & DD Co., Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1953. • Keystone Mariner • Buckeye Mariner • Hoosier Mariner • Bagder Mariner - Converted to passenger ship, in 1953. • Hawkeye Mariner • Built by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp., San Francisco, California, in 1953 C4-S-1f built by Todd San Pedro, the three were C4-S-1a converted in 1955 for Pacific Far East Lines cargo. • Golden Bear • Korean Bear • Japan Bear • Built by Bethlehem Steel Co., Key Highway Yard, Baltimore, Maryland, in 1953 C4-S-1h Conversion for break bulk ships for American President Lines in 1955. • President Hayes (IV) (Old Dominium Mariner) • President Jackson (IV) (Volunteer Mariner) • President Adams (IV) (Palmetto Mariner) • President Coolidge (II) (Cracker State Mariner) C4-S-1t • Built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in San Francisco in 1962 for Pacific Far East Lines • China Bear, scrapped 1986 • Philippine Bear, scrapped 1986 ==Mail ships==

C4-S-1s received new midbodies at Bethlehem Steel's San Francisco yard, this increasing their length from to . New bow thrusters were also installed. Operator American Mail Line. . Built in 1962. • Washington Mail - Became • Japan Mail Became • Philippine Mail Converted to containership in 1971, renamed President Eisenhower in 1975, then Santa Paula in 1983, then American Banker in 1985 and scrapped in 2004. ==State ships==

• Built by Newport News for States SS Company in 1962. . C4-S-1u • California • Oregon • Washington • Hawaii ==African ships==

Built by Ingalls Shipbuilders for Farrell Lines. . C4-S-58a • African Comet • African Meteor • African Mercury Used in a location shot for the movie The French Connection • African Neptune • African Dawn • African Sun ==American ships==

Built by Newport News for States SS Company in 1959. , length at the waterline, , top speed. • C4-S-57a • American Challenger - Renamed the Pioneer Moon. Scrapped in 1988 • American Charger - Scrapped in 1988 • American Champion - Scrapped in 1988 • American Chieftain - Scrapped in 1988 Built by Sun Ship for United States Lines in 1964 and 1965. . • C4-S-64a • American Rover - Scrapped in 2004 • American Racer • American Ranger - Scrapped in 2004 • American Reliance • American Resolute - Scrapped in 2004 Built by Beth Quincy for United States Lines in 1962 and 1963. . • C4-S-57a • American Courier - Scrapped in 1988 • American Commander - Scrapped in 1988 • American Corsair - Scrapped in 1988 • American Contractor - Scrapped in 1988 • American Contender - Scrapped in 1988 • American Crusader - Scrapped in 1988 ==Ro-Ro ships==

Built by for the USN in 1967. One roll-on/roll-off ship in class C4-ST-67a • ==Notable incidents==

• Marine Perch a C4-S-A3, was renamed SS Yellowstone. Yellowstone was in a collision with the Algerian freighter MV IBN Batoutaand and sank on 12 June 1978, southeast of Gibraltar in the Mediterranean Sea in dense fog. Five crewmen on Yellowstone were killed and two were injured, none on IBN Batoutaand. The bow of IBN Batoutaand struck deep into Yellowstone. • Marine Lion a C4-S-B2, was renamed to , a hospital ship. On 25 August 1950 she sank after a in collision with the freighter SS Mary Luckenbach in heavy fog off San Francisco. Of the crew of 550, 23 were lost in the sinking. • , built in 1944, was sold a few times and renamed SS Poet. In 1980 she went missing without a trace and is presumed sunk. her cargo was 13,500 tons of bulk corn that she loaded at Girard Point Terminal in South Philadelphia, she was to steam to Port Said, Egypt. There was a severe storm in the Atlantic Ocean at the time she vanished and she was low in the water with her heavy load. • SS Cornhusker Mariner ran aground on the night of 6 and 7 July 1953 in the typhoon "Kit" as it passed close to Pusan Harbor. ==See also==