USNS Private John F. Thorson

History
United States
Name	Becket Bend
Namesake	Becket bend
Ordered	as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2486
Builder	Southeastern Shipbuilding Corporation, Savannah, Georgia
Yard number	AV2
Laid down	8 January 1945
Launched	26 February 1945
Sponsored by	Mrs. L. S. deSevilla
Commissioned	delivered to the Maritime Commission (MARCOM) prior to commissioning, 6 July 1945
Identification	Hull symbol: AK-247 (never received number)
Fate	Transferred to the War Shipping Administration (WSA), 23 July 1946
United States
Name	Becket Bend; Private John F. Thorson;
Namesake	John F. Thorson, awarded Medal of Honor during WWII
Owner	WSA
Operator	US Army
Acquired	25 July 1946
In service	25 July 1946
Out of service	1 March 1950
Renamed	31 October 1947
Fate	Transferred to the US Navy, 1 March 1950
United States
Name	Private John F. Thorson
Owner	US Navy
Operator	Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS)
Acquired	1 March 1950
In service	1 March 1950
Out of service	1954
Stricken	1 October 1958
Identification	Hull symbol: T-AK-247
Fate	Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 29 August 1960
United States
Name	Private John F. Thorson
Owner	MARAD
Acquired	29 August 1960
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 29 August 1960
General characteristics
Class and type	Alamosa-class cargo ship
Type	C1-M-AV1
Tonnage	5,032 long tons deadweight (DWT)
Displacement	2,382 long tons (2,420 t) (standard); 7,450 long tons (7,570 t) (full load);
Length	388 ft 8 in (118.47 m)
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	21 ft 1 in (6.43 m)
Installed power	1 × Nordberg, TSM 6 diesel engine ; 1,750 shp (1,300 kW);
Propulsion	1 × propeller
Speed	11.5 kn (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Capacity	3,945 t (3,883 long tons) DWT; 9,830 cu ft (278 m3) (refrigerated); 227,730 cu ft (6,449 m3) (non-refrigerated);
Complement	15 Officers; 70 Enlisted;
Armament	1 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 caliber dual purpose gun (DP); 6 × 20 mm (0.8 in) Oerlikon anti-aircraft (AA) cannons;

USNS Private John F. Thorson (T-AK-247) was a US Maritime Administration (MARCOM) C1-M-AV1 type coastal cargo ship, originally planned as an Alamosa-class cargo ship. Constructed as Becket Bend for MARCOM, completed in August 1945 and placed in operation by the War Shipping Administration. However, the war ended, and she was transferred to the US Army as USAT Private John F. Thorson who kept her in service until transferred to the US Navy in 1950. She was struck in 1960, ending her military career.

Construction

Becket Bend was laid down under MARCOM contract, MC hull 2486, by the Southeastern Shipbuilding Corporation, Savannah, Georgia on 8 January 1945; launched 26 February 1945; sponsored by Mrs. L. S. deSevilla; and delivered via MARCOM to Moore–McCormack Lines, Inc., 6 July 1945.^[3]

As Becket Bend, the cargo ship was operated by Moore–McCormack under General Agency Agreement (GAA). Title for the ship was transferred from the War Shipping Administration to the Army 23 July 1954 and the actual transfer to custody took place two days later at New Orleans, Louisiana.^[3]

US Army service

Renamed Private John F. Thorson 31 October 1947, she operated as an Army Transportation Service ship until transferred to the Navy 1 March 1950.^[3]

US Navy service

Placed in service as T–AK–247, she was assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) and operated from Gulf ports until 1954. Transferred to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Charleston Group, she decommissioned 2 August 1954 and was struck from the Navy List 1 October 1958.^[3]

Final inactivation

Private John F. Thorson remained at Charleston until transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) 29 August 1960. The same day she was sold to Hugo New Steel Products, New York City, for scrap.^[3]

Notes

Citations

^ ^a ^b ^c C1 Cargo Ships 2009.
^ Navsource 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e DANFS 2015.

Bibliography

Online resources

"Private John F. Thorson". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
"C1 Cargo Ships". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
"USNS Pvt John F. Thorson (T-AK-247)". Navsource.org. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2016.

External links

Photo gallery of USS Private John F. Thorson(AK-247) at NavSource Naval History

[FOOTNOTEC1_Cargo_Ships2009-1] C1 Cargo Ships 2009.

[FOOTNOTENavsource2015-2] Navsource 2015.

[FOOTNOTEDANFS2015-3] DANFS 2015.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Alamosa-class cargo ships
Alamosa Alcona Amador Antrim Autauga Beaverhead Beltrami Blount Brevard Bullock Cabell Caledonia Charlevoix Chatham Chicot Claiborne Clarion Codington Colquitt Craighead Doddridge^* Duval^* Fairfield Faribault Fentress Flagler Gadsden Glacier Grainger Gwinnett Habersham Hennepin Herkimer Hidalgo Kenosha Lebanon Lehigh Lancaster Marengo Midland Minidoka Muscatine Muskingum Nicollet Pembina Pemiscot Pinellas Pipestone Pitkin Poinsett Pontotoc Richland Rockdale Schuyler Screven Sebastian Somerset / Coastal Sentry Sussex Tarrant Tipton Traverse^* Tulare^* Washtenaw^** / Sgt. George Peterson Westchester^* Wexford^† / Coastal Crusader Maiden's Eye / Colonel William J. O'Brien Becket Bend / Private John F. Thorson Short Splice Long Splice / Private Frank J. Petrarca
* = Canceled August 1945 ** = Canceled August 1945, but completed as Coastal Guide † = Canceled August 1945, but completed as Coastal Crusader
List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy

v t e Type C1-M ships
Type C1-M-AV1	Alamosa Alcona Acorn Knot / Sgt. George D Keathley Amador Anchor Bend Anchor Hitch Antrim Autauga Beaverhead Becket Bend / Private John F. Thorson Becket Hitch Bell Ringer / Captain Arlo L. Olson Beltrami Bight Knot Blackwall Hitch Blount Boatswain's Hitch Bowline Knot Brevard Bullock Buntline Hitch Cabell Cable Splice Caledonia Cape Somerset Cape Stanhope Capstan Knot Carrick Bend Cat's Paw Chain and Crown Charlevoix Chatham Check Knot / Sgt. Joseph E. Muller Chicot Cinch Knot Claiborne Clarion Clove Hitch Coastal Captain Coastal Charger Coastal Courser Coastal Crusader Coastal Guide / Sgt. George Peterson Coastal Mariner Coastal Monarch Coastal Monitor Coastal Rambler Coastal Ranger Coastal Telegrapher Codington Colquitt Craighead Crossing Hitch Crown and Diamond Crown Knot Diamond Hitch Diamond Knot Doddridge Double Loop Dragon Fly Duval Elmer J. Burr Emerald Knot Fairfield Faribault Fentress Fiador Knot Fisherman's Bend Flagler Flemish Knot Gadsden Glacier Grainger Grass Knot Gunner's Knot Gwinnett Habersham Half Hitch Half Knot Harold W. Roberts Hawser Bend Hawser Eye Hawser Splice Hennepin Herkimer Hickory Bay Hickory Beck Hickory Bourne Hickory Brae Hickory Brook Hickory Burn Hickory Cairn Hickory Cape Hickory Coll Hickory Crest Hickory Dale Hickory Dell Hickory Dyke Hickory Ghyll Hickory Glen Hickory Isle Hickory Knoll Hickory Lake Hickory Mount Hickory Stream Hickory Tarn Hickory Tor Hidalgo Honda Knot Hook Hitch Horseshoe Splice Jacob's Ladder Jumper Hitch Kenneth E. Gruennert / Grommet Reefer Kenosha Knob Knot Lancaster Lanyard Knot Leader Loop Lebanon Lehigh Lever's Bend Lewis Hall Link Splice / Sgt. Jonah E. Kelley Lock Knot Long Eye Long Splice / Private Frank J. Petrarca Loop Knot Magnus Hitch Maiden's Eye / Colonel William J. O'Brien Mainsheet Eye Manrope Knot Marengo Mariner's Splice Marline Hitch Marlingspike Hitch Masthead Knot Midland Minidoka Mooring Hitch Mooring Knot Muscatine Muskingum Nicollet Ocean Plat Pembina Pemiscot Phoebe Knot Pinellas Pipestone Pitkin Poinsett Pontotoc Reef Knot Reeving Eye Richland Rigger's Eye Ring Hitch Ring Knot Ring Splice Roband Hitch Rockdale Rolling Hitch Rose Knot Round Splice / Private Jose F. Valdez Running Knot Sailmaker's Splice Sailor's Splice Salmon Knot Sampan Hitch Schuyler Screven Sebastian Shamrock Knot Sheepshank Sheet Bend Shell Bar Short Splice Sinnet Snakehead Snug Hitch Somerset / Coastal Sentry Span Splice Spanish Bowline Spar Hitch Spindle Eye / Sgt. Curtis F. Shoup Spool Sinnet Square Knot Square Sinnet Star Knot Studding Sail Sussex Sword Knot Tag Knot Tapir Splice Tarrant Terminal Knot Thimble Eye Timber Hitch Tipton Traverse True Knot Tucked Bend Tulare Turk's Head Wall Knot Water Knot Westchester William G. Fournier William N. Nelson Yard Hitch
Type C1-M-AV7	Coastal Liberator
Type C1-M-AV8	Crossing Knot Flat Knot Marline Bend Persian Knot Single Hitch Solid Sinnet
Type C1-MT-BU1	Arizona Pine California Redwood Oregon Fir Washington Cedar