USS Elizabeth C. Stanton (AP-69) Class

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USS Elizabeth C. Stanton (AP-69) on 23 February 1944
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Class:        ELIZABETH C. STANTON (AP-69)
Design:        MC C3-Cargo (Moore) and C3-M
Displacement (tons):        7,980 light, 14,400 lim.
Dimensions (feet):        492.1' oa, 465.0' pp x 69.5' e x 24.0' lim.
Original Armament:        1-4"/50 4-3"/50 8-20mm (1942: both)
Later armaments:        4-3"/50 2-40mmT 10<22-20mm (1943-44: both); 4-3"/50 2-40mmT 2-40mm 14>8-20mm (1945: AP-69)
Complement:        564 (1944)
Speed (kts.):        18.4
Propulsion (HP):        8,000
Machinery:        De Laval turbine, 1 screw

Construction:

AP	Name	Acq.	Builder	Keel	Launch	Commiss.
69	ELIZABETH C. STANTON	13 Sep 42	Moore DD, Oakland	21 Sep 39	22 Dec 39	17 Sep 42
70	FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE	13 Sep 42	Moore DD, Oakland	20 Jun 40	28 Aug 40	17 Sep 42

Disposition:

AP	Name	Decomm.	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
69	ELIZABETH C. STANTON	3 Apr 46	17 Apr 46	3 Apr 46	RTO	--
70	FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE	1 May 46	8 May 46	1 May 46	RTO	--

Class Notes:
FY 1943. AP-69 was called C3-Cargo by MC and AP-70 was called C3-M (for Moore), though the designs were probably nearly identical. On 1 Aug 42 CominCh directed that arrangements be made immediately for the partial conversion and the manning by Navy crews of ten vessels, which he specified by name and which became AP 42-43 and 66-73, for use in connection with "prospective movements overseas of U. S. troops." (the North Africa landings). On 3 Aug 42 the Auxiliary Vessels Board recommended acquisition of these ships, three from the Army and seven including MORMACSTAR and MORMACSUN from WSA. The ships were to be Navy manned and converted to modified combat loaded transports. The "must" items for these conversions were that the vessels be able to run, shoot, hoist and lower landing boats and tank lighters, mess and berth their complements, and have bulk gas and Diesel stowage for fueling the landing craft, plus such other items of a combat loaded transport as might be possible during the limited availability. Specifically, the Board recommended that provision be made for carrying the maximum number of landing boats and tank lighters, including adequate fuel stowage for them, along with the accomplishment of such other conversion features as might be applicable on a not-to-delay basis. The Board noted that the program was an urgent one--the conversions were to be completed within 30 days of the arrival of the ships at the conversion yards or as soon thereafter as possible.

MORMACSTAR and MORMACSUN, which became USS ELIZABETH C. STANTON (AP-69) and FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE (AP-70) respectively, were two of four WSA ships (AP-67 and 69-71) whose conversion was to be accomplished by and paid for by the Army. Navy personnel were to have full access to the ships while undergoing conversion, but the Board recommended that, to avoid legal complications, they not be acquired and commissioned in the Navy until the major conversion features were complete. The Army took custody of MORMACSTAR from the MC at New York on 11 Aug 42 and similarly took custody of MORMACSUN on 12 Aug 42. Their probable merchant ship armaments were 1-4"/50 1-3"/50 (AP-69) and 1-4"/50 3-3"/50 (AP-70). The Navy conversion instructions for these two ships called for stowage for 20 landing boats and 2 tank lighters. As converted they had two Welin davits and carried most of their boats on deck. The length of AP-70 was listed as 492.0'.

Ship Notes:

AP	Name	MC#	Notes
69	ELIZABETH C. STANTON	52	Ex merc. MORMACSTAR, possibly ex SEA OWL (ID-5006A, completed Jan 41). Converted for Army by Atlantic Basin IW, Brooklyn, N.Y., 11 Aug 42-20 Sep 42. Merc. MORMACSTAR 1946. Scrapped 1967 as NATIONAL SEAFARER.
70	FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE	137	Ex merc. MORMACSUN (completed Jun 41). Converted for Army by Tietjen & Lang DD (Todd), Hoboken, N.J., 13 Aug 42-20 Sep 42. Merc. MORMACSUN 1946. To NDRF 1966 as TEXAS. Sold by MA 2 Nov 70.