Type C2 ship

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title: "Type C2 ship" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["ship-types", "standard-ship-types-of-the-united-states", "type-c2-n-ships", "type-c2-s-aj1-ships-of-the-united-states-navy", "world-war-ii-auxiliary-ships-of-the-united-states"] description: "Ship type" topic_path: "history" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_C2_ship" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Ship type ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox ship"]

Field	Value
section1	{{Infobox ship/image
image	USS Whiteside (AKA-90) anchored in San Francisco Bay c1948.jpg
image_caption	USS Whiteside anchored in San Francisco Bay, circa 1948, a Type C2-S-B1 ship
section2	{{Infobox ship/class overview
name	Type C2 ship
builders	* Sun Yards
subclasses	Aldebaran-class
cost	$3,380,400 (1945); $48,136,896 (2020)
built_range	1938–1946 (U.S. shipyards)
in_service_range	1938 – c. 1970
in_commission_range	4 April 1941 (AF-11)
total_ships_completed	328 (23 July 1938 – TBD)
total_ships_lost	8 during hostilities
section3	{{Infobox ship/characteristics
type	Cargo ship
tonnage	(AF-11)
displacement	13,910 tons (AF-11)
length	459 ft (design)
beam	63 ft (design)
draft	25 ft (design)
depth	40 ft (design)
propulsion	*two boilers, two turbines single propeller 6,000 shp (AF-11) or
speed	*15.5 kn (design)
complement	287 (AF-11)
armament	* 1 × single 5 in dual-purpose gun mount
* 4 × single [[3"/50-caliber gun	{{convert
::

|section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = USS Whiteside (AKA-90) anchored in San Francisco Bay c1948.jpg | image_caption = USS Whiteside anchored in San Francisco Bay, circa 1948, a Type C2-S-B1 ship

|section2={{Infobox ship/class overview |name = Type C2 ship |builders =* Sun Yards

• Western Pipe & Steel
• Federal Shipbuilding
• Moore Drydock
• Consolidated Steel Corporation |operators = |subclasses= Aldebaran-class |cost=$3,380,400 (1945); $48,136,896 (2020) |built_range = 1938–1946 (U.S. shipyards) |in_service_range = 1938 – c. 1970 |in_commission_range = 4 April 1941 (AF-11) |total_ships_building = |total_ships_planned= |total_ships_completed=328 (23 July 1938 – TBD) |total_ships_canceled= |total_ships_active = |total_ships_laid_up= |total_ships_lost = 8 during hostilities |total_ships_retired= |total_ships_preserved=

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | class = | type = Cargo ship | tonnage = (AF-11) | displacement = 13,910 tons (AF-11) | length = 459 ft (design) | beam = 63 ft (design) | height = | draught = | draft = 25 ft (design) | depth = 40 ft (design) | hold_depth = | decks = | deck_clearance = | ramps = | ice_class = | power = | propulsion = *two boilers, two turbines single propeller 6,000 shp (AF-11) or

• diesel engines | sail_plan = | speed = *15.5 kn (design)
• 19 kn (maximum) | range = | endurance = | test_depth = | boats = | capacity = | troops = | complement = 287 (AF-11) | crew = | time_to_activate = | sensors = | EW = | armament = * 1 × single 5 in dual-purpose gun mount
• 4 × single 3 in dual-purpose gun mounts
• 10 × single 20 mm AA gun mounts (AF-11) | armour = | armor = | aircraft = | aircraft_facilities = | notes =

Type C2 ships were designed by the United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) in 1937–38. They were all-purpose cargo ships with five holds, and U.S. shipyards built 328 of them from 1939 to 1945. Compared to ships built before 1939, the C2s were remarkable for their speed and fuel economy. Their design speed was 15.5 kn, but some could make 19 kn on occasion. The first C2s were 459 ft long, 63 ft broad, and 40 ft deep, with a 25 ft draft. Later ships varied somewhat in size. Some, intended for specific trade routes, were built with significant modifications in length and capacity.

In 1937, MARCOM distributed tentative designs for criticism by shipbuilders, ship owners, and naval architects. The final designs incorporated many changes suggested by these constituencies. The ships were to be reasonably fast but economical cargo ships which, with some government subsidies to operators, could compete with vessels of other nations. Building costs were to be minimized by standardization of design and equipment, and the ships were to have sufficient speed and stability that they could be used as naval auxiliaries in time of national emergency.

The basic specifications called for a five-hold steel cargo ship with raked stem and cruiser stern, complete shelter and second decks, and a third deck in Nos. 1–4 holds. Dimensions of the hatches were 20 ×, except for No. 2, which was 20 ×, allowing such cargo as locomotives, naval guns, long bars, etc. Ventilation to the holds was provided by hollow kingposts, which also served as cargo masts. Cargo handling gear consisted of fourteen 5-ton cargo booms, plus two 30-ton booms at Nos. 3 and 4 hatches.

Living accommodations were much improved over previous designs, with crew accommodations amidships, officers quarters on the boat deck, and the captain's quarters on the bridge deck, along with the wheelhouse, chartroom, gyro and radio room. Hot and cold running water was provided throughout.

Many of the ships such as SS Donald McKay were converted by the U.S. Navy for service during World War II. The commercial versions were operated by the government during the war. Beginning in late 1945, the commercial ships were sold to merchant shipping lines, with service until the early 1970s.

Cost

According to the War Production Board, in 1943 the C-2 had a relative cost of $313 per deadweight ton (10,800 deadweight tonnage) for $3,380,400; which at $14 to $1 inflation of 1945 to 2020 amounts to $48,136,896

Ships in class

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/USS_Wayne_(APA-54)_at_Naval_Station_Norfolk,Virginia(USA),circa_in_1943(NH_93602).jpg" caption="USS ''Wayne'', a C2-S-E1"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/American_Forester_IMO_5014379_G_Hamburg_1969.JPG" caption="''American Forester'' of type C2-S-B1 (1969"] ::

::data[format=table title="Subtypes of C2 Type ships"]

Type	Total (328)	DWT	Builders	Example	C2-S-B1	C2-S-AJ1	C2-S-AJ3	C2-S-E1	C2	C2-S-AJ5	C2-F	C2-S	C2-S-B1-R	C2-S-AJ4	C2-S-AJ2	C2-SU-R	C2-T	C2-S-A1	C2-SU	C2-S1-B1	C2-S1-DG2	C2-N	C2-G
115	9,150
64	10,755	North Carolina SB, NC	and USS Great Sitkin
32	11,300	North Carolina
30	10,565	Gulf SB, AL
20	9,758
10	10,400	North Carolina	SS American Scout
7	9,390	Federal SB
6	9,970	Bethlehem Sparrows Point, MD
6	7,640	Moore Dry Dock
6	9,652	North Carolina	(Santa ships) as in SS Santa Luisa
5	10,350	North Carolina
5	8,595	Sun Yards, PA
4	8,656	Tampa SB, FL
4	8,130	Bath Iron Works, ME	SS Empire Oriole
3	9,620	Sun Yards, PA
3	7,640	Moore Dry Dock
3	8,720	Federal SB	three cargo-passenger ship: SS Santa Monica, SS Santa Clara and SS Santa Sofia
3	6,350	Tampa SB	three ships: , and
2	9,020	Federal SB	two ships and were both torpedoed in 1942.
::

Modified and redesignated

• Stores Ship – AF (11)
  • 3 (C2)
    • , ,
  • 2 (C2-S-E1)
    • ,
  • 6 of 10 (C2-S-B1-R)
    • AF-50, AF-51, AF-52, AF-54, AF-60, AF-61
• Attack Transports – APA (1 + 6AP)
  • 3 s (C2-S-B1)
    • APA-49, APA-50, APA-51 (AP-94, AP-95, AP-96)
  • 4 s (C2-S-E1)
    • APA-52, APA-53, APA-54 (AP-97, AP-98, AP-99)
    • APA-94
• Transports – AP (13)
  • 7 (C2-S-B1)
  • 3 (C2-S-A1)
  • 2 (C2-S-AJ1)
  • (C2-F)
• Cargo ship – AK (21 + 1 AKA)
  • ...
  • ... ,
  • ,
  • ...
  • ...
  • (AKA-92) (in 1963)
• Attack Cargo Ships – AKA (60 + 17AK)
  • (AK-26)
  • 11 (C2, C2-F, C2-T)
    • AKA-1 ... AKA-4 (AK-18 ... AK-21)
    • AKA-6 ... AKA-8 (AK-23 ... AK-25)
    • AKA-11 ... AKA-14 (AK-28, AK-53, AK-55, AK-56)
  • 32 (C2-S-AJ3)
    • AKA-64 ... AKA-87, AKA-101 ... 108
  • 30 (C2-S-B1)
    • AKA-15 ... AKA-20 (prev: AK-64 ... AK-69)
    • AKA-53 ... AKA-63, AKA-88 ... AKA-100
• General Stores Issue Ship – AKS (2 + 2AK)
  • 3 s
    • , , (AK-54)
  • (AK-42)
• Ammunition ship – AE (15 + 2AKA)
  • 7 (C2, C2-T, C2-N)
    • , , ,
    • ,
  • 8 (C2-S-AJ1)
  • Converted from in 1965
    • (prev: )
    • (prev: )
• Aviation Supply Ship – AVS (1AK)
  • (AK-43)
• Command ship – AGC (15)
  • 4
    • ... ,
  • 8
    • ...
  • 3
    • ...

Notable incidents

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/USS_Achernar.jpg" caption="USS ''Achernar'', a C2-S-B1 ship"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/USS_Polaris_(AF-11)_off_Korea_in_1953.jpg" caption="USS ''Polaris'' operating off Korea, 1953, a C2"] ::

• Highflier a C2-S-B, exploded and sank during the Texas City Disaster in 1947.
• Wild Rover a C2-S-B1, renamed Mormackite, capsized in heavy seas and sank off Cape Henry on 7 October 1954. Survivors were attacked by sharks.
• , a C2-S-AJ1, on 26 December 1969 with a full load of 8,900 bombs, rockets, shells and mines bound for Da Nang, South Vietnam, cargo shifted and a bomb went off in rough seas. On 5 January 1970 she sank north of Midway Atoll. Twenty-nine members of her crew died during the evacuation.
• , a C2-S-AJ3, renamed SS Guam Bear, was wrecked and sank in 1967. She was in a collision outside Apra Harbor, Guam. A constructive total loss, the hulk was towed 2 nmi off shore and scuttled.
• SS American Shipper, a C2-S-AJ5. Delivered December 1945. Sank in 1974 in the Balintang Channel, 400 mi southeast of Hong Kong.
• was torpedoed in 1942 and sank off Tunisia.
• was torpedoed in 1942, sank in North Atlantic.
• SS Louise Lykes was torpedoed and sank in the North Atlantic in 1943.
• SS Shooting Star was torpedoed and sank in South Atlantic in 1943. One US Armed Guard killed.
• was wrecked and sank off Newfoundland in 1942.
• exploded and sank in the Admiralty Islands in 1944.
• SS Fairport was torpedoed and sank in the North Atlantic in 1942.
• SS Santa Catalina was torpedoed and sank off Georgia 1943.
• SS African Star was torpedoed and sank in the South Atlantic in 1942.
• SS African Dawn (CH-111) collided with a tanker in convoy, 2300 hrs, Oct 28 1943.

Citations

General and cited references

• United States Maritime Commission C2 Type Ships

References

1. (February 1941). "New Type Exporter Steamers". J.S. Hines.
2. [http://shipbuildinghistory.com/merchantships/2c2cargoships.htm shipbuildinghistory.com, List of all C2 Ships]
3. (January 1938). "Let's Start Rebuilding Our Merchant Marine in 1938". J.S. Hines.
4. Civilian Production Administration Bureau of Demobilization. (1946). "Minutes of the War Production Board January 20, 1942 - October 9, 1945". U.S. Government Printing Office.
5. [https://www.maritime.dot.gov/multimedia/ss-american-scout SS American Scout]
6. [http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=891020 USS Southampton AKA-66]
7. [http://sharkattackfile.net/spreadsheets/pdf_directory/1954.10.07-Mormackite.pdf Sea disaster CASE: GSAF 1954.10.07, October 7, 1954]
8. [http://www.usmm.org/badger_state.html Starlight (AP-175)]
9. [http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?184793 wrecksite.eu, Midnight]
10. [https://archive.today/20131217011556/http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/merchantships/wwii/c2cargoships.htm#selection-12141.23-12141.28 shipbuildinghistory.com, C2 Cargo Ships]
11. [http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1380959 ''American Shipper'']

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