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USNS Curtiss

by Murray Polson 2016

Curtiss

USNS Curtiss (Photo from the Murray Polson collection. )

I am fascinated by the ships that call at Victoria BC. We often see exotic–looking vessels and on November 28th, 2015 I photographed the USNS Curtiss.

USNS Curtiss (T–AVB–4) is one of two Wright–class Aviation Logistics Support (Roll–on/Roll–off) Container Ships converted for the Military Sealift Command by Todd Shipyards in 1987.

Curtiss

USNS Curtiss (Photo from the Murray Polson collection. )

She is 604’ x 90’ and displaces 12,409 tons. She carries a civilian crew of about 40 and an aircraft maintenance detachment of military personnel.

Curtiss

USNS Curtiss (Photo from the Murray Polson collection. )

The Wikepedia states that she was, "Originally laid down 1 April 1968 at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Inc. of Pascagoula, Mississippi as SS Mormacksky, ON 521302, IMO 6901830, a Maritime Commission type (C5–S–78a) combination breakbulk, container, Ro-Ro vessel under Maritime Administration contract for the Moore–McCormack Lines. Launched 1 December 1968, she was delivered to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) on 25 July 1969. After working for that line for only a short time the ship was sold to American Export–Isbrandtsen Lines and renamed SS Great Republic on 19 October 1970. In 1978 she was sold again to Farrell Lines without name change.[3] The ship was turned over to MARAD in 1981. Converted and renamed USNS Curtiss (T–AVB–4) on 14 May 1986.

Curtiss

USNS Curtiss (Photo from the Murray Polson collection. )

Curtiss

USNS Curtiss (Photo from the Murray Polson collection. )

The Wikepedia states that, "The Military Sealift Command (MSC) is a United States Navy organization that controls most of the replenishment and military transport ships of the Navy. The United States Military Sealift Command has the responsibility for providing sealift and ocean transportation for all US military services as well as for other government agencies. Military Sealift Command ships are made up of a core fleet of ships owned by the United States Navy and others under long-term charter augmented by short-term or voyage–chartered ships. The Navy-owned ships carry blue and gold stack colors, are in service with the prefix USNS (United States Naval Ship), rather than in commission (a USS prefix), have hull numbers as an equivalent commissioned ship would have with the prefix T– and are civilian manned by either civil service mariners or contract crews as is the case of the special mission ships."


To quote from this article please cite:

Polson, Murray (2016) USNS Curtiss. Nauticapedia.ca 2016. http://nauticapedia.ca/Gallery/Curtiss_USNS.php

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