History
United States
NameShort Splice
NamesakeShort splice
Orderedas type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2464[1]
BuilderConsolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California
Yard number1310[1]
Laid down15 January 1945
Launched3 March 1945
Sponsored byMrs. A. 0. Wiese
Commissioneddelivered to the Maritime Commission (MARCOM) prior to commissioning, 18 May 1945
Identification
FateTransferred to the War Shipping Administration (WSA)
History
United States
NameShort Splice
OwnerWSA
OperatorUS Army
Acquired17 July 1946
In service17 July 1946
Out of service1 March 1950
FateTransferred to the US Navy, 1 March 1950
History
United States
NameShort Splice
OwnerUS Navy
OperatorMilitary Sea Transportation Service (MSTS)
Acquired1 March 1950
In service1 March 1950
Out of service29 June 1973
Stricken15 June 1973
IdentificationHull symbol: T-AK-249
FateTransferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 31 August 1973
History
United States
NameShort Splice
OwnerMARAD
Acquired31 August 1973
FateSold for scrapping, 31 August 1973
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeAlamosa-class cargo ship
TypeC1-M-AV1
Tonnage5,032 long tons deadweight (DWT)[1]
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 m3) (refrigerated)
  • 227,730 cu ft (6,449 m3) (non-refrigerated)
Complement
  • 15 Officers
  • 70 Enlisted

USNS Short Splice (T-AK-249) was a US Maritime Administration (MARCOM) C1-M-AV1type coastal cargo ship, originally planned as an Alamosa-class cargo ship. Constructed as Short Splice for MARCOM, completed in August 1945 and placed in operation by the War Shipping Administration during the closing period of World War II. However, the war ended, and she was transferred to the US Army as USAT Short Splice who kept her in service until transferred to the US Navy in 1950.

Construction

Short Splice was laid down under MARCOM contract, MC hull 2464, on 15 January 1945 by Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California; launched on 3 March 1945; sponsored by Mrs. A. 0. Wiese; and delivered to the United States Steamship Lines on 18 May 1945.[3]

US Army service

She was acquired and operated by the Army which commissioned her on 17 July 1946, as USAT Short Spice. She was retained by the Army until she was transferred to the US Navy 1 March 1950.[3]

US Navy service

She operated with the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), carrying cargo for military bases. Until 5 March 1959, she called at almost every European port as well as ports along the Atlantic western coast from Goose Bay, Labrador, to the Panama Canal Zone. She then operated from New Orleans, Louisiana, carrying supplies, ammunition, and vehicles to Panama; Key West, Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Kingston, Jamaica.[3]

On 3 November 1966, Short Splice moved to the Far East, and a crew of Koreans was assigned to man her. She made supply runs to Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and the Philippine Islands. On 30 March 1973, the Korean crew was replaced by American merchant seamen, but her area of operations did not change.[3]

Final inactivation

On 20 June 1973, while at Sasebo, Japan, she was transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for disposal. Short Splice was sold to Fuji Marden & Co. Ltd., Hong Kong, British Crown Colony, on 31 July 1973 and scrapped.[3]

Notes

    Citations
    1. 1 2 3 C1 Cargo Ships 2009.
    2. ↑ Navsource 2012.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 DANFS 2015.

    Bibliography

    Online resources

    • "Short Splice". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2016.Public Domain 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 Short Splice (AK-249)". Navsource.org. 7 July 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
    • Photo gallery of USNS Short Splice (AK-249) at NavSource Naval History
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