Type C4-class ship

USS Haven, an example of a Type C4 ship, seen here in 1954, a type C4-S-B2 ship.
Class overview
Builders
OperatorsUnited States Maritime Commission (MARCOM)
Preceded byType C3-class ship
SubclassesSix
Completed81
General characteristics
Type
  • C4-S-A1 troop transport (30 built)
  • C4-S-A3 troop transport (15 built)
  • C4-S-A4 cargo ship (16 built)
  • C4-S-B1 tank carrier (one built)
  • C4-S-B 2 troop transport/hospital ship (14 built)
  • C4-S-B5 cargo/troop transport (five built)
Tonnage
  • 12,420 GRT (A1-A4)
  • 11,757 GRT (B1-B5)
Length
  • 523 ft (159 m) (A1-A4)
  • 520 ft (160 m) (B1-B5)
Beam71.6 ft (21.8 m)
Draft
  • 29 ft (8.8 m) (A1-A4)
  • 30 ft (9.1 m) (B1-B5)
Propulsion
  • Steam turbine
  • 9,900 shp (7,400 kW)
Speed17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Range
  • 12,000 miles (A1-A4)
  • 14,000 miles (B1-B5)
ComplementVaried by design type

The Type C4-class ship were the largest cargo ships built by the United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) during World War II. The design was originally developed for the American-Hawaiian Lines in 1941, but in late 1941 the plans were taken over by the MARCOM.

Eighty-one ships were built as cargo or troopships in four shipyards: Kaiser Richmond, California (35 ships), Kaiser Vancouver, Washington (20 ships), Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock in Chester, Pennsylvania (20 ships) and Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point, Maryland (6 ships). All ships were capable of 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph), driven by a single screw steam turbine generating 9,900 shaft horsepower (7,400 kW).

Among the variations of the design were the Haven-class hospital ship.

They were followed post-war by thirty-seven of the larger C4-S-1 class, also known as the Mariner class.[1][2]

  1. ^ Pike, John. "C4-S-1a Mariner / APA-248 Paul Revere / AKA-112 Tulare". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  2. ^ "C4 Cargo Ships". shipbuildinghistory.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.