USNS Colonel William J. O'Brien (T-AK-246)

Career (USA)
Name: Colonel William J. O’Brien
Namesake: A U.S. Army name retained: William J. O’Brien
Ordered: as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2323
Builder: Consolidated Steel Corporation, Long Beach, California
Laid down: 17 January 1945, as MS Maiden's Eye
Launched: 13 February 1945
Commissioned: date unknown, as USAT Colonel William J O'Brien
Decommissioned: circa 1 March 1950
In service: circa 1 March 1950 as USNS Colonel William J. O'Brien (T-AK-246)
Out of service: in the 1960s
Struck: 1 September 1973
Fate: sold for scrapping, 1 October 1973
General characteristics
Type: Alamosa-class cargo ship
Tonnage: 2,382 tons
Tons burthen: 6,240 tons
Length: 388' 8"
Beam: 50'
Draft: 21' 1"
Propulsion: Diesel, single screw, 1,700shp
Speed: 11.5 knots
Complement: 85 officers and enlisted
Armament: none

USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien (T-AK-246) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship that was constructed for the U.S. Navy during the closing period of World War II. However, the war ended, and she was transferred to the U.S. Army as USAT Colonel William J. O’Brien who kept her in service until transferred to the U.S. Navy in 1950.

Contents

Built in Long Beach, California

The ship was laid down as MV Maiden's Eye on 17 January 1945 and launched on 13 February 1945 at Consolidated Steel Corporation, Long Beach, California, as a type (C1-M-AV1) under U.S. Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2323). She was acquired by the U.S. War Shipping Administration (WSA) on 10 April 1945.

U.S. Army service

She was assigned to the U.S. Army which commissioned her on (date unknown) as USAT Colonel William J. O'Brien. She was retained by the U.S. Army until she was transferred to the U.S. Navy 1 March 1950.

U.S. Navy service

Colonel William J. O’Brien (AK-246) was acquired from the U.S. Army on 1 March 1950 and immediately transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien (T-AK-246) for permanent assignment.

She continued to serve the U.S. Navy until she was placed out of service in the 1960s.

Final inactivation

She was stricken from the Navy List on 1 September 1973 and laid up until she was sold on 1 October 1973 and subsequently scrapped.

Honors and awards

Qualified vessel personnel were authorized the following:

References