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U.S. Maritime Commission type C3-P P&C
The U.S. Maritime Commission’s C3 type was the largest and fastest of the agency’s original standard designs, and was also the platform with the most sub-types and modifications. The vessels’ size (the basic C3 was 492 feet long and displaced...
U.S. Maritime Commission type C2-S-AJ5
The C2 cargo ship was one of the first standardized designs developed by the newly-created U.S. Maritime Commission.
A major technical improvement over World War I-era vessels, the C2 could travel at 15.5 knots and carry 500,000 cubic...
The C1 type was the smallest and slowest of the three standard cargo designs in the U.S. Maritime Commission’s Long Range Shipbuilding Program. Intended as an economical choice for tramp services and coastwise trade where speed was not essential, these vessels had five holds and a capacity of 6,...
In order to meet its ambitious 500-ship goal, the U.S. Maritime Commission turned to a concept that had been used with some success by its predecessor during World War I; design standardization. Traditionally, shipping lines designed their vessels to service specific routes; this made each ship...
U.S. Maritime Commission design type P4-S2
Built for U.S.-to-Europe liner service, America was launched on August 31, 1939, the day before Germany invaded Poland, marking the start of World War II; by the time it was ready for passenger service, the Neutrality Act of 1939...
Captain Leonard LaRue (1914 – 2001): Larue was captain of the Meredith Victory during the Korean War. He commanded the vessel in December 1950, when it evacuated 14,000 Korean refugees from Hungnam, Korea. This was the largest humanitarian evacuation ever recorded by a...
For Actions on June 23, 1986.
Gallant Ship Award Citation:
On June 23, 1986, fire broke out at the Hess Oil Terminal, Brooklyn, New York. The fire ignited combustibles on the decks of two tank barges, S.T. 65 and S.T. 85, light with gasoline bottoms, moored at Pier 5. Several...
This bibliography provides a list of published materials on the history of the United States merchant marine from 1900 to today. It is meant to serve as a guide for further reading and research for those interested in the history of: MARAD (and predecessor agencies), the United States merchant marine, merchant mariners, and the United States Merchant Marine Academy, in the 20th century.
The list is organized by subjects, and in alphabetical order by author's last name, or title, when no author is listed.
Twelve years prior to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria in 2017, Maritime Administration (MARAD), Ready Reserve Force (RRF) vessels provided floating berths, meals, and command and control centers for personnel from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other...