US Navy Auxiliary Ships: Mariveles (IX-197) Class

S.S. Tuapse, later USS Serapis (IX-213), circa 1943-1944
Click on this photograph for links to larger images of this class.

Class:        MARIVELES (IX-197)
Design        Tanker, 1920 (EFC Design 1059)
Displacement (tons):        4,616 light, 11,478 full load
Dimensions (feet):        450.0' oa, 430.0' wl x 59.0' x 28.1' full load
Original Armament:        2-3"/50 8-20mm (IX-197)
Later armaments:        1-4"/50 1-3"/50 8-20mm (IX-213)
Complement        70 (1944)
Speed (kts.):        10
Propulsion (HP):        2,800
Machinery:        1 screw, turbine (diesel in IX-197)

Construction:

IX	Name	Acq.	Builder	Keel	Launch	Commiss.
197	MARIVELES	17 Apr 45	Baltimore DD & SB	3 Jun 19	27 Mar 20	17 Apr 45
213	SERAPIS	3 Aug 45	Baltimore DD & SB	--	18 Dec 20	3 Aug 45

Disposition:

IX	Name	Decomm.	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
197	MARIVELES	8 Jun 46	10 Jun 47	8 Jun 46	MC/D	2 Feb 48
213	SERAPIS	19 Oct 45	1 Nov 45	19 Oct 45	MC/D	17 May 46

Class Notes:
FY 1942 (IX-197), 1944 (IX-213). MILLER COUNTY and DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA were among 12 tankers ordered by the EFC from the Baltimore DD &SB Co. during World War I to a design that it designated EFC Design 1059. These were the only large tankers built by this yard. Ten of the twelve were completed for the EFC in 1920 and 1921, and the last two were cancelled and completed privately in 1920-22 just before the yard closed. MILLER COUNTY was re-engined in 1923 with a Sun diesel (2,600 BHP).

-- IX-197: On 11 Nov 44 the Auxiliary Vessels Board reported that in July 1944 the Commanding General of the Rear Echelon in the Southwest Pacific Area had requested that four tankers suitable for shuttle service of clean products be acquired. The Board noted that two such vessels (IX-184 and 185) had been authorized and a third ship already in the area was being used under allocation with a merchant crew. It recommended that a fourth ship be acquired upon its arrival in the area and be assigned to Service Force, Seventh Fleet to fulfill this requirement. Although not stated, it appears that this ship was needed to replace IX-186 which had been reassigned from shuttle service to floating storage prior to mid-October. WSA had designated the tanker JAMESTOWN for this purpose on 10 Nov 44. Like IX-187, also earmarked for this duty, she was to be fitted to carry diesel oil in her forward tanks and aviation gas in the after tanks.

-- IX 213: On 23 Feb 45 the Auxiliary Vessels Board recommended that the three commercial tankers that became IX-210, 213, and 214 be acquired for use as storage tankers and that three other similar vessels also be acquired. See the IX-179 class for full details on this directive.

Ship Notes:

IX	Name	Notes
197	MARIVELES	Ex merc. JAMESTOWN, ex-AURORA 1942, ex-MILLER COUNTY 1927 (ID-4482, completed May 20). Acquired at Brisbane, Australia. To MC at Subic Bay 1946 as JAMESTOWN, to buyer 3 Mar 1948 as MARIVELES and scrapped at Shanghai.
213	SERAPIS	Ex merc. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ex TUAPSE (USSR) 1945, ex DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 1942 (completed Feb 21). Acquired at Honolulu, became surplus before conversion work completed and sent back to West Coast. Merc. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (MC) 1945. To buyer 8 May 47, scrapped by 25 Jun 47.