USS Lehigh (AK-192) was an Alamosa class cargo ship that was constructed by the United States Navy during the closing period of World War II. She was declared excess-to-needs and returned to the United States Maritime Commission shortly after commissioning.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name |
|
| Namesake | Lehigh County, Pennsylvania |
| Ordered | as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2123[1] |
| Builder | Walter Butler Shipbuilders, Inc., Superior, Wisconsin |
| Yard number | 41[1] |
| Laid down | 8 June 1944 |
| Launched | 25 November 1944 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. Stanley Butler |
| Acquired | 30 July 1945 |
| Commissioned | 13 September 1945 |
| Decommissioned | 6 November 1945 |
| Stricken | date unknown |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | returned to Maritime Commission, 6 November 1945 |
| History | |
| United States | |
| Name | Coastal Archer |
| Owner | Maritime Commission |
| Operator |
|
| Acquired | 6 November 1945 |
| In service | 6 November 1945 |
| Out of service | 15 February 1948 |
| Fate | Sold, 7 March 1947 |
| History | |
 Brazil | |
| Name | Rio Solimões |
| Namesake | Solimões River |
| Operator | Lloyd Brasileiro, Patrimonio Nicional |
| Acquired | 15 February 1947 |
| In service | 7 March 1947 |
| Fate | Scrapped 1969 |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Class and type | Alamosa-class cargo ship |
| Type | C1-M-AV1 |
| Tonnage | 5,032 long tons deadweight (DWT)[1] |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 388 ft 8 in (118.47 m) |
| Beam | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Draft | 21 ft 1 in (6.43 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 1 × propeller |
| Speed | 11.5 kn (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph) |
| Capacity |
|
| Complement |
|
| Armament |
|
Construction edit
The second ship to be so named by the Navy, Lehigh was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract, MC hull 2123, by Walter Butler Shipbuilding Co., Superior, Wisconsin, 8 June 1944; launched 25 November 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Stanley Butler; acquired by the Navy 30 July 1945; placed in service the same day for ferrying from Beaumont, Texas, to Galveston, Texas; placed out of service on the 31st; and commissioned at New Orleans 13 September 1945.[3]
Post-war decommissioning edit
Because of the reduced need for cargo ships following World War II, Lehigh decommissioned 6 November 1945 and was turned over to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) the same day,[3] and her name was reverted to Coastal Expounder.[2]
Merchant service edit
Coastal Expounder was used by several shipping companies from 1945–1947, when she was placed in the reserve fleet before being transferred then sold to Lloyd Brasileiro, Patrimônio Nicional, of Brazil.[2]
On 7 March 1947, she was sold for $693,862 and renamed Rio Solimões.[4] She was scrapped in 1969.
Notes edit
- Citations
- ^ a b c C1 Cargo Ships 2009.
- ^ a b DANFS 2015.
- ^ MARAD.
Bibliography edit
Online resources
- "Lehigh II (AK-192)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. - "C1 Cargo Ships". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- "USS Lehigh (AK-192)". Navsource.org. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- "Coastal Expounder". United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
External links edit
- Photo gallery of USS Lehigh (AK-192) at NavSource Naval History
