SS Gopher State (T-ACS-4)

SS Gopher State (T-ACS-4)
Career (United States)
Name:	SS Export Leader (MA 257)
Owner:	United States Maritime Administration
Operator:	American Export Isbrandtsen Line
Ordered:	20 October 1970
Builder:	Bath Iron Works
Laid down:	26 July 1971
Launched:	8 July 1972
In service:	22 January 1973 to 1986
Homeport:	Newport News, VA
Fate:	Acquired by the United States Navy
Career (United States)
Name:	SS Gopher State (T-ACS-4)
Namesake:	Named in honor of the state of Minnesota.
Acquired:	1986
In service:	12 October 1987 to the present
Notes:	Five days needed to activate.
General characteristics
Class and type:	Keystone State-class crane ship
Displacement:	13900 tons (light) 31500 tons (full)
Length:	668 ft 7 in
Beam:	76 ft 1 in
Draft:	33 ft 6 in
Propulsion:	Steam turbines 2 boilers 1 shaft single propeller 17,500 shp
Speed:	17 knots
Capacity:	300 plus containers four 30 ton capacity cranes
Complement:	9 civilian during Reduced Operating Status 32 civilian during Full Operating Status

The SS Gopher State (T-ACS-4) was laid down on 26 July 1971, at Bath Iron Works, Bath, ME. as SS Export Leader, a Maritime Administration type (C5-S-73b) hull under Maritime Administration contract (MA 257). She was launched on 8 July 1972 and delivered to the Maritime Administration, 22 January 1973. She was assigned by the Maritime Administration to the Military Sealift Command (MSC) on 7 November 1980 and assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, based out of Charleston, SC. SS Gopher State is berthed at Newport News VA. and is maintained in a 5-day readiness status (ROS-5)

See also

• Operation Steel Box

References

• U.S. Navy, [1]
• U.S. Naval Register, [2]
• United States Navy Fact File - Crane Ships

External links

• Global Security.org - T-ACS Keystone State Auxiliary Crane Ships
• Global Security.org - T-ACS Keystone State Auxiliary Crane Ships specifications
• Navsource.org
• National Defense Reserve Fleet Inventory

Keystone State Class Crane Ship