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_underway_in_March_1943.jpg) Niobrara underway in March 1943
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Kennebec |
| Builders | |
| Preceded by | Chicopee class |
| Succeeded by | Suamico class |
| In commission | 1942–1970 |
| Completed | 16 |
| Active | 1 in commercial service as lake freighter |
| Lost | 1 |
| Retired | 14 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | MARAD T2 |
| Tonnage | 15,910 DWT |
| Displacement | 21,077 tons |
| Length | 501 ft 8 in (152.9 m) |
| Beam | 68 ft (20.7 m) |
| Draft | 29 ft 8.5 in (9.1 m) |
| Depth | 37 ft (11.3 m) |
| Installed power | 12,000 shp (8,900 kW) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) |
| Range | 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) |
| Capacity | 130,000 bbl (~18,000 t) |
| Complement | 214–247 |
| Armament |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Mattaponi-class oiler |
| Type | MARAD T2-A |
| Tonnage | 16,400 DWT |
| Displacement | 21,750 tons |
| Length | 520 ft (160 m) |
| Beam | 68 ft (21 m) |
| Draft | 29 ft 11.5 in (9.131 m) |
| Depth | 37 ft (11 m) |
| Installed power | 12,000 shp (8,900 kW) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) |
| Range | 7,200 nmi (13,300 km; 8,300 mi) |
| Capacity | 133,000 bbl (~18,100 t) |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Chiwawa-class oiler |
| Type | MARAD T3-S-A1 |
| Tonnage | 16,543 DWT |
| Displacement | 21,077 tons |
| Length | 501 ft 7.75 in (152.9017 m) |
| Beam | 68 ft (21 m) |
| Draft | 29 ft 10.5 in (9.106 m) |
| Depth | 37 ft (11 m) |
| Installed power | 7,000 shp (5,200 kW) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 15.3 knots (28.3 km/h; 17.6 mph) |
| Range | 14,500 nmi (26,900 km; 16,700 mi) |
| Capacity | 133,800 bbl (~18,250 t) |
The Kennebec-class oilers were sixteen United States Navy medium oilers built during World War II to three related designs at Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard of Sparrows Point, Maryland and Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. of Chester, Pennsylvania, all of which survived the war. One is still in commercial service as of 2022.
All of the ships of the class initially were to be built for private companies, but the outset of World War II, the ships were transferred to the United States Maritime Commission and given new names. Later, when allocated to the U.S. Navy, they were renamed again.[1]
In some cases the Kennebec class is divided into three classes, the Kennebec class (AO-36 to AO-40, AO-48), the Mattaponi class (AO-41 to AO-44, AO-47) and the Chiwawa class (AO-68 to 72). The first two classes were of the T2 and T2-A designs, built by different shipbuilders, and the Chiwawas were of the T3-S-A1 design, mainly differing in having only a 7,000 shp (5,200 kW) engine and a top speed of 15.3 knots (28.3 km/h; 17.6 mph).
- ^ Wharton, George. "Great Lakes Fleet Page Vessel Feature -- Lee A. Tregurtha". Great Lakes and Seaway Shipping. Archived from the original on 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2008-01-07.