Name Long Splice Yard number 1234 Launched 7 August 1945 | Namesake Long splice Laid down 18 April 1945 | |
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Ordered as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2329 Builder Consolidated Steel Corporation, Long Beach, California | ||
USNS Private Frank J. Petrarca (T-AK-250) was a US Maritime Administration (MARCOM) C1-M-AV1 type coastal cargo ship, originally planned as an Alamosa-class cargo ship. Constructed as Long Splice for MARCOM, completed in September 1945 and placed in operation by the War Shipping Administration (WSA) during the closing period of World War II. However, the war ended, and she was transferred to the US Army as USAT Private Frank J. Petrarca who kept her in service until transferred to the US Navy in 1950.
Contents
Construction
Long Splice was laid down under MARCOM contract, MC hull 2329, by the Consolidated Steel Corporation, Ltd., Long Beach, California, 18 April 1945; launched 8 July 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Eloi J. Amar; and delivered to the MARCOM, thence to Lykes Brothers, 20 September 1945.
As Long Splice, the cargo ship was operated by Lykes Brothers under General Agency Agreement until returned to the MARCOM and transferred to the War Department, 29 August 1946.
US Army service
Renamed Private Frank J. Petrarca, 31 October 1947, she operated with the Army Transportation Service (ATS) until again transferred, to the Navy, 1 July 1950.
US Navy service
Placed in service, with the designation T–AK–250 on 6 July 1950, she was assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) and served the Mid-Pacific Ocean area until 1959.
Between 9 April 1959 and 4 July 1960, the AK was laid up at Suisun Bay, California, as a unit of the Maritime Administration's National Defense Reserve Fleet.
Reacquired by the Navy on the latter date, she was again assigned to MSTS, under which she resumed cargo carrying duties between Pacific Ocean ports. In 1962, she participated in a cost and feasibility study of year round ocean service in Alaskan waters.
Antarctic service
Four years later, she delivered supplies to McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, to support Deep Freeze ‘66. In accomplishing that mission she became the first cargo ship to be so employed without benefit of an ice-strengthened hull. Since that time, into 1970, Private Frank J. Petrarca continued to carry vital supplies and equipment, particularly to southeast Asia, for MSTS, Pacific.
Final inactivation
She was struck from the Navy List on 15 October 1973 and subsequently sold on 1 December 1977.