USNS Blue Jacket (T-AF-51) was an Alstede-class stores ship in service the United States Navy Military Sea Transportation Service from 1950 to 1971. She was scrapped in 1973.

History
United States
Ordereda C2-S-B1 type freighter, MC hull 183
Laid down23 October 1941
Launched14 February 1942
Completed23 March 1943
Acquired1 March 1950
Commissioned1 March 1950
Decommissioned19 August 1970
Stricken19 October 1971
FateSold for scrapping, 1 March 1973
General characteristics
Displacement6,329 t.(lt) 13,893 t.(fl)
Length459 ft 3 in (139.98 m)
Beam63 ft (19 m)
Draught25 ft 9 in (7.85 m)
Speed12.5 knots
Complement55
Armamentnone

History

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Blue Jacket—a C2-S-B1 type freighter—was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 183) on 23 October 1941 at Oakland, California, by the Moore Dry Dock Co.; launched on 14 February 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Edward U. Read; and delivered to her operators, the United Fruit Co., on 25 March 1943.

During World War II, she was operated by the United Fruit Company, then in 1947 by the Black Diamond Steamship Corporation and, after return to the Maritime Commission in 1948, by the U.S. Army under charter.[1] Blue Jacket was acquired from the U.S. Army in 1950 as a refrigerator ship, T-AF-51, and assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), Atlantic Area. She operated as such, lifting cargoes of various kinds (mostly consisting of refrigerated stores) between the United States and European ports through the late 1960s. Taken out of service with MSTS on 19 August 1970,

Blue Jacket was transferred on that day to the temporary custody of the Maritime Administration for lay-up in the James River, Virginia. On 1 September 1971, she was transferred to the permanent custody of that agency; and her name was struck from the Navy list on 19 October 1971. Sold to Andy International, Inc., of Houston, Texas, on 1 March 1973, the ship was later scrapped.

Military awards and honors

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Blue Jacket's crew was eligible for the following medals:

References

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  1. ^ "USNS Blue Jacket (T-AF-51)". NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive. NavSource Online. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
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