Gopher State-class crane ship

The Gopher State-class crane ships of the United States Navy are a class of auxiliary vessels. The lead ship of the class is named in honor of the state of Minnesota. Original United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) designation for the ship is C5-S-73b.

SS Gopher State
Class overview
Name	Gopher State class
Builders	Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
Operators	United States Navy
Built	1967–1972
In commission	1986–present
Completed	3
Active	3
General characteristics
Type	Crane ship
Displacement	13,500 long tons (13,717 t) light
Length	668 ft 7 in (203.78 m)
Beam	76 ft 1 in (23.19 m)
Draft	33 ft 6 in (10.21 m)
Propulsion	2 boilers 2 steam turbines 1 shaft 17,500 shp (13,050 kW)
Speed	17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Capacity	300+ containers Four 30 ton cranes
Complement	9 civilians in Reduced Operating Status 32 civilians in Full Operating Status

History

All three vessels of the class were former Sea Witch-class container ships built at the Bath Iron Works for American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines. AEIL was acquired by Farrell Lines in 1978 and the ships were later returned to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) at an unknown date. They were converted for naval service as crane ships in 1986–1987.

SS Gopher State and SS Cornhusker State are in MARAD Ready Reserve Force status in Newport News, Virginia. SS Flickertail State has been transferred from the Ready Reserve Force to the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) at Alameda, CA., for stripping of spare parts for sister ships.

Ships in class

• SS Gopher State (T-ACS-4) was converted from the Export Leader, Bath Hull No. 358, IMO 7226689
• SS Flickertail State (T-ACS-5) was converted from the CV Lightning, Bath Hull No. 355, IMO 6817845
• SS Cornhusker State (T-ACS-6) was converted from the CV Stag Hound, Bath Hull No. 356, IMO 6916433

External links

• Shipbuilding History page with information on Bath Iron Works hulls
• NavSource Gopher State (T-ACS-4)
• NavSource Flickertail State (T-ACS-5)
• NavSource Cornhusker State (T-ACS-6)
• Outboard Profiles of Maritime Administration Vessels, The C5-Designs and his Conversions