T2 tanker

The T2 tankerHat Creekin August 1943

TheT2 tanker,orT2,was a class ofoil tankerconstructed and produced in large numbers in the United States duringWorld War II.Only theT3 tankerswere larger "navy oilers" of the period. Some 533 T2s were built between 1940 and the end of 1945. They were used to transportfuel oil,diesel fuel,gasolineand sometimesblack oil-crude oil.Post war many T2s remained in use; like other hastily built World War II ships pressed into peacetime service, there were safety concerns. As was found during the war, theUnited States Coast GuardMarine Board of Investigation in 1952 stated that in cold weather the ships were prone to metalfatiguecracking, so were "belted" withsteelstraps. This occurred after two T2s,PendletonandFort Mercer,split in two offCape Codwithin hours of each other.Pendleton's sinking is memorialized in the 2016 filmThe Finest Hours.Engineering inquiries into the problem suggested the cause was poor welding techniques. It was found the steel (that had been successfully used in riveted ship design) was not well suited for the new wartime welding construction. The highsulfurcontent made the steel brittle and prone to metal fatigue at lower temperatures.

Designs

T2 design

The T2 design was formalized by theUnited States Maritime Commissionas its medium-sized "National Defense tanker", ashipbuilt for merchant service which could be militarized as a fleet auxiliary in time of war. MarCom subsidized the excess cost of naval features beyond normal commercial standards. The T2 was based on two ships built in 1938–1939 byBethlehem SteelforSocony-Vacuum Oil Company,MobilfuelandMobilube,differing from the Mobil ships principally in the installation of more powerful engines for higher speed. Standard T2s were 501 ft 6 in (152.9 m) in total length, with a beam of 68 ft (20.7 m). Rated at 9,900tons gross(GRT), with 15,850 long tonsdeadweight(DWT), standard T2sdisplacedabout 21,100 tons.Steam turbinesdriving a singlepropellerat 12,000horsepower(8,900kW) delivered a top speed of 16knots(30 km/h; 18 mph). Six were built for commerce byBethlehem-Sparrows Point ShipyardinMaryland,only to be taken over by theUnited States Navyfollowing theAttack on Pearl Harboras theKennebec-class oiler.

T2-A design

Keystone Tankships company ordered five tankers in 1940 fromSun Shipbuilding & Drydockof Chester, Pennsylvania, based on the T2 but longer and with increased capacity; Marcom would designate this design T2-A. Bigger but faster, they were 526 ft (160.3 m) in total length, displaced about 22,445 tons, and were rated at 10,600 tons gross with 16,300DWT— yet they attained a top speed approaching16+1⁄2knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph). All five were requisitioned by the Navy during the war and converted to fleet oilers as theMattaponiclass.

T2-SE-A1

By far the most common variety of the T2-type tanker was the T2-SE-A1, another commercial design already being built in 1940 by the Sun Shipbuilding Company forStandard Oil Companyof New Jersey. They were 523 ft (159.4 m) long, 68 ft (20.7 m) abeam, with 10,448gross register tons(GRT) and 16,613DWT.Their (steam)turbo-electric transmissionsystem delivered 6,000shaft horsepower(4,500 kW), with maximumthrustof 7,240 horsepower (5,400 kW), which produced a top-rated speed of about 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) with a cruisingrangeof up to 12,600 miles (20,300 km). After Pearl Harbor, theUnited States Maritime Commissionordered this model builten masseto supply U.S. warships already in accelerated production, and provide for the fuel needs of US forces in Europe and the Pacific, as well as to replace the tanker tonnage being lost at an alarming rate to German U-boats. 481 were built in extremely short production times by theAlabama Drydock and Shipbuilding CompanyofMobile, Alabama,theKaiser Companyat theirSwan Island YardatPortland, Oregon,theMarinshipCorp. ofSausalito, California,and theSun Shipbuilding and Drydock CompanyofChester, Pennsylvania.During that period, average production time from laying of thekeelto "fitting out" was 70 days. The record, however, was held by Marinship, which hadHuntington Hillsready forsea trialsin just 33 days.

T2-SE-A2 and -A3

The T2-SE-A2 variation, built only by Marinship of Sausalito, was nearly identical to the T2-SE-A1 version, except with 10,000 hp (7,500 kW) rather than 7,240. The A3 variation was essentially an A2 built as a naval oiler from the start, rather than converted later as many A2s were. Two of the A2 ships would be converted to thePasig-classofdistilling ships.

T3-S-A1

Despite the confusing T3 designation, the T3-S-A1s built byBethlehem Sparrows PointforStandard Oil of New Jerseywere identical to the original T2s except for having less powerful engines of 7,700 hp (5,700 kW). Twenty-five of this design were ordered by the Maritime Commission, of which five became Navy oilers as theChiwawaclass.

T2-A-MC-K

T2-A-MC-K had a M.C. deadweight tonnage of 16,300 and a full load tonnage of 22,445. The dimensions were: Length: 526 ft (160 m), Beam: 68 ft (21 m) and max. draft: 30 ft 10 in (9.40 m). Powered by turbine engines rated at 12,000 hp (8,900 kW) with a top speed of 17.5 knots (32.4 km/h; 20.1 mph). The first Navy commissioning was in 1942. could hold 117,400 Bbls of oil and 595,000 gal of gasoline. Crew of 23 officers and 329 enlisted men. Armament: one single 5'/38 cal dual-purpose gun mount, four single 3 "/50 cal dual-purpose gun mounts, four twin 40 mm AA gun mounts and twelve single 20 mm AA gun mounts. Example wasUSSPatuxent,aKennebec-class oiler.

Notable deployments

In 1966, theUS Armyreactivated 11 T2 tankers and converted them into floating electrical power generation plants and deployed them toVietnam.The ships' propulsion systems' electrical turbines were used to generate electricity for on-shore use, drawing on fuel from the ships' 150,000-barrel holds. This allowed the ships to produce electricity for two years without refueling for theVietnam War.USNSFrench Creekwas the first to arrive in June 1966, then next wasUSSKennebago,both installed inCam Ranh Bay.

Notable incidents

Navy service

The new T2 tankerSchenectadybroke in two at its dock due to brittle metal and bad welding

The fractured USS Ponaganset (AO-86), at the General Ship and Iron Works, Boston, MA., 9 December 1947

The T2 tanker "Pendleton" bow in 1952

Crew fromUSCGCYakutatpull in a life-raft carrying survivors from the bow section of SS Fort Mercer, the photo was taken 20 minutes prior to its sinking 1952

• Schenectadybroke in two in 1943. At 11 pm on 16 January 1943, a few days after completing her sea trials, the 501-foot-long T2 tankerSchenectadybroke in two amidships while lying at the outfitting dock in the constructors yard in Portland, Oregon. The temperature of the harbor water was about 39 °F (4 °C) and water conditions were still. The air temperature was approximately 26 °F (−3 °C) and winds were light. The hull failure was sudden and accompanied by a report that was heard a mile away.Schenectady,built by aKaiser Shipyard,was the first catastrophic T2 hull failure, made all the more impressive by the still conditions under which it occurred. The failure ofSchenectadyinitiated on the deck between two bulkheads and ran down to the keel (see photo). A defective weld was present in a region of stress concentration arising at a design detail point. Poor welding procedures were cited by the committee investigating the failure as contributory; however, at that time themetallurgicalproblems were not fully understood.
• SSCaddo(1942) sank on 23 November 1942 after being hit by atorpedofrom theU-boatU-518in the North Atlantic while en route to Iceland. She had 8 survivors of the 59 men aboard. Also known as SSDorchester Heights.
• SSEsso Gettysburgsank on 10 June 1943 after being hit by a torpedo fromU-66while 90 miles (140 km) off theGeorgiacoast. She was bound for Philadelphia with crude oil. She lost 57 of her 72 crew.
• SSBloody Marshsank on 2 July 1943 after being hit by a torpedo fromU-66.Bloody Marshwas on her maiden voyage and sank 75 miles (121 km) east ofSavannah, Georgia.She lost three of her 77 crew.
• USTouchetsank on 3 December 1943 after being hit by a torpedo fromU-193.She sank in theGulf of Mexicowhile en route to New York fromHouston,Texas.
• SSMcDowellsank on 16 December 1943 after being hit by a torpedo fromU-516offCuba.
• SSFort Leesank on 2 November 1944 after being hit by a torpedo fromU-181in theIndian Ocean.
• SSJacksonvillesank on 30 August 1944 after being hit by a torpedo offIrelandbyU-482.She was in convoy CU 36, en route toLoch Ewe,Scotland.
• USSPonagansetbroke in two, sank at pier inBoston,and was raised and scrapped in 1947.
• SSNickajack Trailsank on 30 March 1946 in Eniwetok Harbor atEnewetak Atollon trip from Port Arthur to Yokohama.
• SSGlenn's Ferrysank on 6 October 1945 atBatag Island, Philippineson a trip fromLos AngelestoManilaafter an explosion.

Commercial service

• SSBemis Heightssank on 5 November 1948 off Quoin Point, South Africa on trip from Santos to Abadan.
• SSPendleton,broke in two on 18 February 1952
• SSFort Mercer,broke in two on 18 February 1952
• SSSalem Maritimeexploded on 17 January 1956 while taking on a load of fuel in Lake Charles, Louisiana. 18 crew members on board were killed, including the oncoming and the retiring Master; as well as 3 personnel ashore when the No. 8 port fuel tank exploded in flames. TheSalem Maritimeand three tank barges in close proximity and shore installations were severely damaged.
• SSMidway Hillssank 2 October 1961 after she broke in two from an engine room explosion. She sank 110 miles east fromJacksonville, Florida,on a trip from Houston toPerth Amboy, New Jersey.

SSMarine Sulphur Queen

The remains ofMarine Sulphur Queen,recovered by the US coast guard

• SSMarine Sulphur Queenand its crew of 39 disappeared near the southern coast of Florida after 4 February 1963.
• SSBunker Hillsank 6 March 1964 after an explosion, she broke in two nearAnacortes, Washingtonon a trip fromTacoma, Washingtonto Anacortes.
• SSWhite Bird Canyonsank on 17 December 1964 with loss of all the crew in bad weather offUlak Island,Aleutianson trip fromVancouverto Yokohama.
• SSRainier(T2-SE-A1) built by Swan Island. After World War II was sold to private company in 1948. Was converted to bulk cargo ship on 1962, was wrecked and sank on 22 December 1965 off Faja Grande Lighthouse,Flores, Azoresas SSPapadiamandis.
• SSFort Schuyler(T2-SE-A1) fire started in engine room, then was damaged by explosions and sank on 24 October 1966 off the coast ofMorgan City, Louisiana.
• SSNinety-Sixsank on 3 March 1971 after starting to leak in storm in the Indian Ocean, on trip fromBunbury, Western Australia,to Savannah.
• SSV. A. Fogg,a T2 tanker, lost 1 February 1972 mistakenly believed to have been lost in the Bermuda Triangle
• SSBelridge HillsSank 24 December 1972 in gale storm 800 miles south of Kodiak on trip from Vancouver to Yokohama.
• SSMarine Floridian,a T2 Tanker that in 1977 collided with a drawbridge in Virginia in a spectacular and costly accident.
• SSMarine Electric,a T2 tanker that sank in a 1983 storm, the investigation of which led to major reforms in ship inspections and safety standards.
• Delta Conveyorsank in theMississippi Riveradjacent to Delta Bulk Terminal inConvent, Louisiana.Raised in two sections: the bow in early 2003 and the aft section in late 2003.

See also

• Escambia-classreplenishment oiler
• List of Type T2 Tanker names
• Liberty ship
• Type C1 ship
• Type C2 ship
• Type C3 ship
• Type C4 ship
• Type R ship
• United States Merchant Marine Academy
• United States Navy oiler
• Victory ship

References

Bibliography

• Lane, Frederic Chapin(2001) [1951].Ships for Victory: A History of Shipbuilding under the U.S. Maritime Commission in World War II.Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press.ISBN978-0-8018-6752-1.OCLC45799004.
• Ship Failure Laid to Steel, WeldingNew York Times, March 18, 1943

External links

• The T2 Tanker page
• T-tanker list