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USNS Pvt Jose F Valdez (APC 119).
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Class: SGT JONAH E KELLEY (APC 116, C1-M-AV1)
Design: MC C1-M-AV1
Displacement (tons): 3,366 light, 6,070 full
Dimensions (feet): 339' oa, 320' wl x 50' e/wl x 18' max nav
Armament: none
Accommodations: 39-40 officers, 129 others (46-48/320 in 117-118)
Speed (kts.): 10
Propulsion (HP): 1,700
Machinery: Diesel (direct), 1 screw
Construction:
APC | Name | Acq | Builder | Keel | Launch | Svc |
116 | SGT JONAH E KELLEY | 1 Mar 1950 | Southeastern SB | 29 Jan 1945 | 17 Mar 1945 | Mar 1950 |
117 | SGT GEORGE D KEATHLEY | 1 Jul 1950 | Walter Butler SB, Duluth | 16 Jun 1944 | 7 Dec 1944 | 1 Jul 1950 |
118 | SGT JOSEPH E MULLER | 1 Jul 1950 | Southeastern SB | 30 Dec 1944 | 17 Feb 1945 | 1 Jul 1950 |
119 | PVT JOSE F VALDEZ | 2 Sep 1950 | Walter Butler SB, Duluth | 22 Apr 1944 | 27 Oct 1944 | 7 Sep 1950 |
Disposition:
APC | Name | T | OOS/Cust | Strike | Disposal | Fate | MA Sale/Depart |
116 | SGT JONAH E KELLEY | T | 24 Nov 1969 | 28 Apr 1970 | 3 Oct 1972 | MA/S | -- |
117 | SGT GEORGE D KEATHLEY | T | Dec 1971 | 15 Apr 1976 | 29 Mar 1972 | Trf | -- |
118 | SGT JOSEPH E MULLER | T | 16 Sep 1969 | 28 Apr 1970 | 13 Nov 1969 | MA | 3 Oct 1972 |
119 | PVT JOSE F VALDEZ | T | 7 Nov 1969/C | 15 Aug 1976 | 1 Sep 1971 | MA | 27 Jul 1977 |
Class Notes:
APc 116 was 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. APC 117-118 were among the army ships then operating under commands in the Far East that were to be transferred to the Navy about 1 July 1950 for which names, classification, and hull numbers were approvedon 7 Jun 1950.
On 7 August 1950, shortly after the outbreak of the Korean War, Commander MSTS wrote to CNO that increased transportation requirements in the Caribbean made it highly desirable for MSTS to obtain the services of an additional vessel. He understood that PVT JOSE F VALDEZ, an Army owned vessel, was available at New Orleans and would be transferred to the Navy if it asked. He recommended that the Navy acquire title to the vessel and assign her to MSTS. The Navy asked the Army for the ship on 16 August 1950 and the Army agreed on 29 August 1950. On 29 August 1950 Commander MSTS authorized his deputy commander in the Gulf region to accept the ship. APC 119 was among one Army ship and three Maritime Administration ships then in layup (AOG 78-80) that were to be transferred to the Navy for which names, classification, and hull numbers were approved on 7 Sep 1950. MSTS on 6 September 1950 acknowledged receipt of title to the ship on 2 September 1950.
Ship Notes:
APC | Name | MA | Notes |
116 | SGT JONAH E KELLEY | 2489 | (ex-LINK SPLICE, completed 28 Aug 1945). To Army by BBC 20 Jun 1946 and by transfer 30 Aug 1946. From September 1950 through about 1960 SGT JONAH E KELLEY made over 200 supply trips between New York City and the Naval Station in Argentia, Newfoundland. She underwent formal conversions for carrying cargo in 1958 and continued on the same duty until declared in excess to requirement in late November 1968. To MA custody 22 Dec 1969. To buyer 6 Dec 1972. |
117 | SGT GEORGE D KEATHLEY | 2247 | (ex-ACORN KNOT,ex-ALEXANDER R NINIGER, JR, completed 2 Oct 1945 at Houston). To Army by BBC 29 Jul 1946 and by transfer 30 Aug 1946. OOS and to MA custody 11 Dec 1956, stricken and permanent transfer to MA 24 Oct 1957. On 6 October 1966 Commander MSTS reported to CNO that a requirement had been placed on MSTS by the Commander of the Naval Oceanographic Office to provide a ship to be operated by MSTS for NAVOCEANO in conducting hydrographic and geophysical surveys in the Pacific area. MSTS On 6 October 1966 selected SGT GEORGE D KEATHLEY (T-APc 117), then in the NDRF in the Hudson River, for reactivation using NAVOCEANO funds and redesignation by CNO as an AGS. She was accordingly transferred from MARAD to MA on 15 Nov 1966 and reclassified from T-APC 117 to T-AGS 35 on 1 Dec 1966. [T-APC 117 was reclassified to T-AGS 35 on 18 Nov 1966.] On 5 August 1971 Commander MSTS requested approval of the ship, noting that she was to become in excess of NAVOCEANO requirements in Sep 1971 and that, with no other prospective requirement for the ship, she was recommended for disposal. Instead she was loaned on 29 Mar 1972 at NSY New York to Taiwan as CHU HWA (AGS 564). Returned 15 Aug 1988, to be used as target. |
118 | SGT JOSEPH E MULLER | 2485 | (ex-CHECK KNOT, completed 9 Jun 1945). Title to Army 30 Jun 1948. To MA custody 7 Dec 1956, stricken and to MA (permanent) 25 Oct 1957. From MA (permanent) 20 Sep 1962. On 30 October 1962 CNO approved the change in classification of T-APC 118 to T-AG 171 effective 1 December 1962. On 16 September 1969 Commander MSTS advised CNO that Commander Naval Security Group had avised that MULLER (T-AG 161) would become in excess to his requirements around early October 1969 and MSTS requested authority to transfer the ship to the NDRF for disposal. To MA custody 13 Nov 1969. To buyer 7 Dec 1972. |
119 | PVT JOSE F VALDEZ | 2245 | (ex-ROUND SPLICE, ex-JOE P MARTINEZ, completed 5 Jul 1945 at New Orleans). To Army by BBC 12 Jul 1945 and by transfer 30 Aug 1946. To MA custody 22 Dec 1959, to MA (permanent) 1 May 1961, stricken 1 Jul 1961. From MA (permanent) 29 Aug 1961, reinstated 1 Nov 1961. On 30 October 1962 CNO approved the change in classification of T-APC 119 to T-AG 169 effective 1 December 1962. On 16 September 1969 Commander MSTS advised CNO that Commander Naval Security Group had avised that VALDEZ (T-AG 169) would become in excess to his requirements around early October 1969 and MSTS requested authority to transfer the ship to the NDRF for permanent preservation. To MA custody 7 Nov 1969, permanent transfer 1 Sep 1971. To buyer 19 Aug 1977. |
Page Notes:
Compiled: 13 Aug 2021
© Stephen S. Roberts, 2021
Sources: DB, Maroon, VSC