Lt James E Robinson (AKV 3, VC2-S-AP3) Class

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USNS Lt James E Robinson (T-AKV 3).
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Class: LT JAMES E ROBINSON (AKV 3, VC2-S-AP3)
Design: MC VC2-S-AP3
Displacement (tons): 5,614 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.): 17
Propulsion (HP): 8,500
Machinery: Geared steam turbines, 2 boilers (465psi/750deg), 1 screw

Construction:

AKV	Name	Acq	Builder	Keel	Launch	Svc
3	LT JAMES E ROBINSON	1 Mar 1950	Oregon SB	25 Nov 1943	20 Jan 1944	1 Mar 1950
4	PVT JOSEPH F MERRELL	1 Mar 1950	California SB	27 May 1944	17 Jul 1944	1 Mar 1950
5	SGT JACK J PENDLETON	1 Mar 1950	Oregon SB	15 Apr 1944	26 May 1944	1 Mar 1950

Disposition:

AKV	Name	T	Inact/Cust	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale/Depart
3	LT JAMES E ROBINSON	T	17 Mar 1976/C	16 Jan 1981	26 May 1983	MA/S	--
4	PVT JOSEPH F MERRELL	T	Jan 1974	31 Jan 1974	26 Aug 1974	MA/S	--
5	SGT JACK J PENDLETON	T	--	15 Feb 1974	25 Sep 1973	Lost	--

Class Notes:
AKV 3-7 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. In 1948 PENDLETON, upon acquisition by the Army, had received miscellaneous alterations including the enlargement of her hatches, and the other two had also probably been similarly modified. In February 1950 the future AKV 3-5 were listed by the Army as troop support ships, but MERRELL and PENDLETON were also the only Army Victory ships then listed to support the Air Force. ROBINSON had also been so listed in 1949. The two large-hatch Liberties that became AKV 6-7 were also listed by the Army for Air Force support but unlike the Victories had no other assignment. AKV 3-5 were used primarily as cargo ships and were reclassified AK 274-276 effective 7 May 1959 by the same OPNAV Notice that reclassified 36 former escort carriers as AKV 8-43.

On 30 October 1962 CNO approved the change in classification of T-AK 274 to T-AG 170 effective 1 December 1962. From 1962 to early 1964 ROBINSON carried out "special logistics operations" in the South Atlantic and the Indian Oceans, operating out of Cape Town and Durban, South Africa, and ranging the African coast from Liberia to Kenya. On 15 April 1964 CNO changed the class and hull number of USNS MIZAR from T-AK 272 to T-AGOR effective 15 April 1964 and the class and reverted the hull number of USNS LT JAMES E ROBINSON back from T-AG 170 to T-AK 274 effective 1 July 1964. ROBINSON returned to New York on 31 May 1964 via Suez and Rota, Spain and resumed transatlantic cargo runs as an AK to western European ports.

Ship Notes:

AKV	Name	MCV	Notes
3	LT JAMES E ROBINSON	86	Ex merc. CZECHOSLOVAKIA VICTORY, completed 11 Mar 1944. Loan to Army 3 May 1948. To AK 274 7 May 1959. To have gone to MA 1962 but kept for special operations and to AG 170 1 Dec 1962. To AK 274 1 Jul 1964 for normal cargo service, to MA custody 17 Mar 1976.
4	PVT JOSEPH F MERRELL	33	Ex merc. GRANGE VICTORY, completed 25 Aug 1944. Title to Army 6 Apr 1948. To AK 275 7 May 1959. Sustained heavy hull damage in a collision at sea with M/V PEARL VENTURE on 29 Dec 1973, taken to Port Hueneme, Calif., and ready for sale there "as is - where is" as of 28 Jan 1974. MA efforts to sell failed 20 Jun 1974, final disposition unknown. PEARL VENTURE, a motor bulk carrier of 9,214 tons was built in 1968 and scrapped in Korea as MYUNG JIN in March 1986.
5	SGT JACK J PENDLETON	109	Ex merc. MANDAN VICTORY, completed 19 Jun 1944. Title to Army 23 Apr 1948. To AK 276 7 May 1959. Grounded 25 Sep 1973 on a reef off Triton Ialand in the South China Sea about 170 miles east of Danang, South Vietnam while carrying a cargo of ammunition back to the US for reconditioning. Salvage forces were on site when Typhoons Opal and Nora forced them to withdraw. Upon return the ship was found to be unsalvageable, and Typhoon Ruth then disrupted equipment and cargo recovery efforts. The wreck was abandoned Nov 1974.