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HISTORY
C2-S-B1 459′ Cargo Ship American Flyer (1944-1976)
USNS Flyer (T-AG-178), was a C2-S-B1 cargo ship of the United
States Navy, built under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull
1209) by the Moore Dry Dock Company of Oakland, California as SS
Water Witch. The keel was laid on 30 October 1944, and the ship
launched on 20 December 1944. The ship served under United
States Lines as SS American Flyer before being returned to the
Maritime Administration.
Type C2 ships were designed by the United States Maritime
Commission in 1937–38. They were all-purpose cargo ships with
five holds, and U.S. shipyards built 173 of them from 1939 to
1945. Compared to ships built before 1939, the C2s were
remarkable for their speed and fuel economy. Their design speed
was 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h), but some could make 19 knots (35
km/h) on occasion. The first C2s were 459 feet (140 m) long, 63
feet (19 m) broad, and 40 feet (12 m) deep, with a 25-foot (8 m)
draft. Later ships varied somewhat in size, cargo hold
arrangement and topside superstructure.
The basic specifications called for a five-hold steel cargo ship
with raked stem and cruiser stern, complete shelter and second
decks, and a third deck in Nos. 1–4 holds. Dimensions of the
hatches were 20 ft (6 m) × 30 ft (9 m), except for No. 2, which
was 20 ft (6 m) × 50 ft (15 m), allowing such cargo as
locomotives, naval guns, long bars, etc. Ventilation to the
holds was provided by hollow kingposts as well as a number of
J-necked ventilators. Cargo handling gear consisted of up to
fourteen 5-ton cargo booms, plus two 30-ton booms at Nos. 3 and
4 hatches. The Z-scale model shown has four 30-ft hatches and on
70-ft hatch in the No. 5 position, a variation shown in MARAD
plans. It also has a canvas cover for the fantail.
Many of the ships were converted by the U.S. Navy for service
during World War II. Beginning in late 1945, the commercial
ships were sold to merchant shipping lines, with service until
the early 1970s.
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