USS Pitkin (AK-204) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship that was constructed for the US Navy during the closing period of World War II. By the time she was scheduled for commissioning, the war's end caused her to be declared “excess to needs” and she was returned to the US Government and struck by the Navy.

History
United States
Name
  • Coastal Observer (1944–1945, 1945–)
  • Pitkin (1945)
NamesakePitkin County, Colorado
Orderedas type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2158[1]
BuilderGlobe Shipbuilding Co., Superior, Wisconsin
Yard number125[1]
Laid downdate unknown
Launcheddate unknown
Completed20 November 1945
AcquiredMay 1945
Commissionedreturned to the US Maritime Commission (MARCOM) prior to commissioning
Identification
FateReturned to MARCOM, 20 November 1945
United States
NameCoastal Observer
OwnerMARCOM
Operator
Acquired20 November 1945
In service20 November 1945
Out of service11 July 1949
FateSold, 13 July 1956
BrazilBrazil
NameRio Mossoró
OperatorCompanhia Nacional de Navegacao Costerira, Patrimonio Nacional
Acquired13 July 1956
In service15 February 1957
RenamedGuararapes in 1971
FateBroken up at Recife in 1984
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeAlamosa-class cargo ship
TypeC1-M-AV1
Tonnage5,032 long tons deadweight (DWT)[1]
Displacement
  • 2,382 long tons (2,420 t) (standard)
  • 7,450 long tons (7,570 t) (full load)
Length388 ft 8 in (118.47 m)
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft21 ft 1 in (6.43 m)
Installed power
Propulsion1 × propeller
Speed11.5 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

Construction

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Pitkin was laid down under US Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2158, by Globe Shipbuilding Co., Superior, Wisconsin. She was transferred to the Navy in May 1945. Pitkin was scheduled for commissioning. However, because of the Allied victory in the Pacific Ocean theatre of operations, her commissioning was cancelled. Pitkin was ordered returned to MARCOM for disposal. Her name subsequently reverted to Coastal Observer.[2]

Merchant service

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Coastal Competitor was used by several shipping companies from 1945 to 1948, when she was placed in the reserve fleet.[2]

On 13 July 1956, she was sold to Companhia Nacional de Navegacao Costerira, Patrimonio Nacional, of Brazil, for $693,682, under the condition that she be used for coastal shipping. She was delivered on 2 February 1957.[3] She was broken up at Recife in 1984.[4]

Notes

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Citations
  1. ^ a b c C1 Cargo Ships 2009.
  2. ^ a b c Navsource 2011.
  3. ^ MARAD.
  4. ^ "GUARARAPES (5296252)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 16 February 2020.

Bibliography

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Online resources

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