USNS Pvt Francis X McGraw (T-AK 241, VC2-S-AP2) Class

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USNS Lt George W G Boyce (T-AK 251) on 24 January 1966.
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Class: PVT FRANCIS X McGRAW (T-AK 241, VC2-S-AP2)
Design: MC VC2-S-AP2
Displacement (tons): 4,442 light, 15,200 full
Dimensions (feet): 455' oa, 444' wl x 62' e/wl x 29' max nav
Armament: none
Accommodations: 14 officers, 35 unlicensed
Speed (kts.): 15
Propulsion (HP): 6,000
Machinery: Geared steam turbines, 2 boilers (465psi/750deg), 1 screw

Construction:

AK	Name	Acq	Builder	Keel	Launch	Svc
241	PVT FRANCIS X McGRAW	1 Mar 1950	California SB	14 Apr 1945	9 Jun 1945	1 Mar 1950
242	SGT ANDREW MILLER	1 Mar 1950	Permanente Metals #2	22 Feb 1945	4 Apr 1945	1 Mar 1950
243	SGT ARCHER T GAMMON	1 Mar 1950	Permanente Metals #2	13 Dec 1944	31 Jan 1945	1 Mar 1950
244	SGT MORRIS E CRAIN	1 Mar 1950	Permanente Metals #2	14 Feb 1945	28 Mar 1945	1 Mar 1950
251	LT GEORGE W G BOYCE	3 Aug 1950	Bethlehem Fairfield	13 Jul 1945	19 Sep 1945	9 Aug 1950
252	LT ROBERT CRAIG	2 Aug 1950	California SB	21 Jun 1945	28 Aug 1945	9 Aug 1950
253	PVT JOE E MANN	7 Aug 1950	Permanente Metals #2	12 Jun 1945	21 Jul 1945	9 Aug 1950
254	SGT TRUMAN KIMBRO	5 Aug 1950	Permanente Metals #1	30 Sep 1944	30 Nov 1944	9 Aug 1950

Disposition:

AK	Name	T	Inact/Cust	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
241	PVT FRANCIS X McGRAW	T	8 May 1974/C	15 May 1974	21 Aug 1974	MA/S	--
242	SGT ANDREW MILLER	T	22 Mar 1976/C	16 Jan 1981	21 Nov 1983	MA/S	--
243	SGT ARCHER T GAMMON	T	1973	1 May 1973	19 Nov 1973	MA/S	--
244	SGT MORRIS E CRAIN	T	11 Mar 1975/C	1 Apr 1975	17 Jul 1975	MA/S	--
251	LT GEORGE W G BOYCE	T	14 Aug 1973/C	15 Jun 1973	7 May 1974	MA/S	--
252	LT ROBERT CRAIG	T	28 Aug 1973/C	15 Jun 1973	26 Mar 1974	MA/S	--
253	PVT JOE E MANN	T	--	--	26 Mar 1974	To AGM 4	--
254	SGT TRUMAN KIMBRO	T	16 Mar 1976/C	16 Jan 1981	26 May 1982	MA/S	--

Class Notes:
As of 31 August 1948 the Army had 21 Victory (VC2) cargo ships, including twelve of the VC2-S-AP3 type and nine of the less powerful VC2-S-AP2 type, which was rated at two knots slower than the VC2-S-AP3. By this time the Victory cargo ship had replaced the Liberty ship in the Army fleet except for the large-hatch Z-EC2-S-C5 Liberty type (see the AKV-6 class). The Army laid up one of its nine VC2-S-AP2's, PASS CHRISTIAN VICTORY, in 1948 (she was sold commercial) and laid up four more, the future AK 251-254, in 1949-50. This left four to pass to the Navy from the Army in 1950. These, AK 241-244, were among the Army ships operating out of continental US ports that were to be acquired on 1 Mar 1950 for which names, classification, and hull numbers were approved on 21 Feb 1950. AK 251-254, recalled from layup, were among 18 Maritime Admiminstration ships to be transferred to the Navy for which names, classification, and hull numbers were approved on 31 Jul 1950. Of these eight ships, one became a missile range instrumentation ships in 1958 (see the RICHFIELD (T-AGM 4) class). The booms in PVT FRANCIS X McGRAW were handled by a special Farrell rig which offered fully powered and swinging operation of the booms.

Ship Notes:

AK	Name	MCV	Notes
241	PVT FRANCIS X McGRAW	796	Ex merc. WABASH VICTORY, completed 6 Jul 1945. To Army 14 Jun 1946. Declared by MSC to be beyond economical repair 5 Apr 1974, to MA custody 8 May 1974. To buyer 15 Feb 1975.
242	SGT ANDREW MILLER	743	Ex merc. RADCLIFFE VICTORY, completed 28 Apr 1945. To Army 26 Jul 1946. To MA custody 22 Mar 1976. Traded out (sold) by MA under Exchange Program 17 Feb 1983, title transferred and ship to buyer 21 Nov 1983.
243	SGT ARCHER T GAMMON	725	Ex merc. YALE VICTORY, completed 24 Feb 1945. To Army 18 Jun 1946. Declared with BONDIA (T-AF 42) by MSC to be in excess of its requirements 21 Mar 1973, in part due to cost of repairs necessary to complete ABS special survey no. 6. Both to Taiwanese buyer 7 Jan 1974.
244	SGT MORRIS E CRAIN	741	Ex merc. MILLS VICTORY, completed 21 Apr 1945. To Army 8 Jun 1946. To MA custody 11 Mar 1975. To buyer 1 Sep 1975.
251	LT GEORGE W G BOYCE	852	Ex merc. WATERVILLE VICTORY, completed 15 Oct 1945. To Army 12 Jul 1946. To Olympia reserve fleet 2 Feb 1950. From Army 31 Jul 1950, custody from MA to MSTS 3 Aug 50. To MA custody 14 Aug 1973. To buyer 17 May 1974. GEORGE shortened to GEO on Navy naming notice but not elsewhere.
252	LT ROBERT CRAIG	811	Ex merc. BOWLING GREEN VICTORY, completed 27 Sep 1945. To Army 5 Jun 1946. To Tomkins Cove reserve fleet 30 Aug 1949, Army retaining title. Declared surplus by Army to MC 8 Dec 1949. From Army 31 Jul 1950, custody from MA to MSTS 2 Aug 1950. To MA custody 28 Aug 1973. Awarded to buyer 26 Dec 1973, title to MA and sale completed 26 Mar 1974, ship physically delivered 23 Aug 1974.
253	PVT JOE E MANN	719	Ex merc. OWENSBORO VICTORY, completed 27 Aug 1945. Chartered to Army 22 Jul 1946 and transferred 30 Aug 1946, title to MC 8 Dec 1949 and laid up 3 Jan 1950. Custody from MA to MSTS 7 Aug 50. On range after AGM conversion circa October 1958, redesignated RICHFIELD (T-AGM 4, q.v.) effective 27 Nov 1960. For her AGM service and disposal see the RICHFIELD (T-AGM 4) class.
254	SGT TRUMAN KIMBRO	547	Ex merc. HASTINGS VICTORY, completed 22 Dec 1944. To Army 18 Jun 1946. To Olympia reserve fleet 19 Jan 1950. From Army 31 Jul 1950, custody from MA to MSTS 5 Aug 50. To MA custody 16 Mar 1976. To buyer 1 Oct 1982.