USNS Captain Arlo L. Olson

History
United States
Name	Bell Ringer; Capt. Arlo L. Olson;
Namesake	Arlo L. Olson awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II
Ordered	as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2478
Builder	J.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia
Laid down	date unknown, as MV Bell Ringer
Launched	8 May 1945
Completed	11 August 1945
In service	30 August 1946, as USAT Capt. Arlo I. Olson; 1 March 1950, as USNS Capt. Arlo L. Olson (T-AK-245);
Out of service	25 October 1956
Stricken	22 May 1958
Identification	Hull symbol:T-AK-245; U.S. Official Number: 247493;
Fate	Scrapped May 1971
General characteristics
Class and type	C1-M-AV1
Tonnage	3,805 GRT
Displacement	7,450 tons full load
Length	388 ft 8 in (118.5 m)
Beam	50 ft (15.2 m)
Draft	21 ft 1 in (6.4 m)
Propulsion	1 × Nordberg Diesel diesel TSM 6 engine; 1 × shaft;
Speed	11.5 knots (13.2 mph; 21.3 km/h)
Armament	none

USNS Capt. Arlo L. Olson (T-AK-245) was a United States Maritime Administration C1-M-AV1 type coastal cargo ship constructed as Bell Ringer for the Administration, completed in August 1945 and placed in operation by the War Shipping Administration under its agent, Waterman Steamship Company, until August 1946. The ship was then transferred to the Army under bareboat charter, The Army renamed the ship Capt. Arlo L. Olson, for Captain Arlo L. Olson who was awarded the Medal of Honor in World War II. The ship was among the Army ships transferred to the Navy in 1950 and then operated by the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS Capt. Arlo L. Olson with hull number T-AK-245 until 1958.

Construction and WSA operation

Bell Ringer was constructed as MC hull 2478 for the Administration by J.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia, completed 11 August 1945 and delivered to the War Shipping Administration for operation by its agent Waterman Steamship Company under a general agency agreement the same day.^[1]

U.S. Army service

On 13 August 1946 to the U.S. War Department for operation by the U.S. Army as USAT Capt. Arlo I. Olson under bareboat charter.^[1] On 1 March 1950 she was one of the Army ships transferred to the Navy's Military Sea Transportation Service and title was transferred to Navy at that time.^[1]^[3]

U.S. Navy service

The ship was immediately placed in service as USNS Captain Arlo L. Olson (T-AK-245) serving until she was placed out of service on 25 October 1956.^[3]^[2] She was stricken from the Navy List on 22 May 1958 and laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia, Washington until she was sold to American Ship Dismantlers on 4 March 1971, delivered 26 March and subsequently scrapped.^[1]^[3]^[2]

Honors and awards

Qualified vessel personnel were authorized the National Defense Service Medal.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Maritime Administration.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h NavSource Online.
^ ^a ^b ^c Naval History And Heritage Command.

Bibliography

Maritime Administration. "Bell Ringer". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration.
Naval History And Heritage Command. "Captain Arlo L. Olson". Naval History And Heritage Command. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
NavSource Online. "USNS Capt. Arlo L. Olson (T-AK-245) - ex- USAT Capt. Arlo L. Olson (1946 - 1950)". Service Ship Photo Archive. NavSource. Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[FOOTNOTEMaritime_Administration-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Maritime Administration.

[FOOTNOTENavSource_Online-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h NavSource Online.

[FOOTNOTENaval_History_And_Heritage_Command-3] Naval History And Heritage Command.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Type C1-M ships
Type C1-M-AV1	Alamosa Alcona Acorn Knot / Sgt. George D Keathley Amador Anchor Bend Anchor Hitch Antrim Autauga Beaverhead Becket Bend / Private John F. Thorson Becket Hitch Bell Ringer / Captain Arlo L. Olson Beltrami Bight Knot Blackwall Hitch Blount Boatswain's Hitch Bowline Knot Brevard Bullock Buntline Hitch Cabell Cable Splice Caledonia Cape Somerset Cape Stanhope Capstan Knot Carrick Bend Cat's Paw Chain and Crown Charlevoix Chatham Check Knot / Sgt. Joseph E. Muller Chicot Cinch Knot Claiborne Clarion Clove Hitch Coastal Captain Coastal Charger Coastal Courser Coastal Crusader Coastal Guide / Sgt. George Peterson Coastal Mariner Coastal Monarch Coastal Monitor Coastal Rambler Coastal Ranger Coastal Telegrapher Codington Colquitt Craighead Crossing Hitch Crown and Diamond Crown Knot Diamond Hitch Diamond Knot Doddridge Double Loop Dragon Fly Duval Elmer J. Burr Emerald Knot Fairfield Faribault Fentress Fiador Knot Fisherman's Bend Flagler Flemish Knot Gadsden Glacier Grainger Grass Knot Gunner's Knot Gwinnett Habersham Half Hitch Half Knot Harold W. Roberts Hawser Bend Hawser Eye Hawser Splice Hennepin Herkimer Hickory Bay Hickory Beck Hickory Bourne Hickory Brae Hickory Brook Hickory Burn Hickory Cairn Hickory Cape Hickory Coll Hickory Crest Hickory Dale Hickory Dell Hickory Dyke Hickory Ghyll Hickory Glen Hickory Isle Hickory Knoll Hickory Lake Hickory Mount Hickory Stream Hickory Tarn Hickory Tor Hidalgo Honda Knot Hook Hitch Horseshoe Splice Jacob's Ladder Jumper Hitch Kenneth E. Gruennert / Grommet Reefer Kenosha Knob Knot Lancaster Lanyard Knot Leader Loop Lebanon Lehigh Lever's Bend Lewis Hall Link Splice / Sgt. Jonah E. Kelley Lock Knot Long Eye Long Splice / Private Frank J. Petrarca Loop Knot Magnus Hitch Maiden's Eye / Colonel William J. O'Brien Mainsheet Eye Manrope Knot Marengo Mariner's Splice Marline Hitch Marlingspike Hitch Masthead Knot Midland Minidoka Mooring Hitch Mooring Knot Muscatine Muskingum Nicollet Ocean Plat Pembina Pemiscot Phoebe Knot Pinellas Pipestone Pitkin Poinsett Pontotoc Reef Knot Reeving Eye Richland Rigger's Eye Ring Hitch Ring Knot Ring Splice Roband Hitch Rockdale Rolling Hitch Rose Knot Round Splice / Private Jose F. Valdez Running Knot Sailmaker's Splice Sailor's Splice Salmon Knot Sampan Hitch Schuyler Screven Sebastian Shamrock Knot Sheepshank Sheet Bend Shell Bar Short Splice Sinnet Snakehead Snug Hitch Somerset / Coastal Sentry Span Splice Spanish Bowline Spar Hitch Spindle Eye / Sgt. Curtis F. Shoup Spool Sinnet Square Knot Square Sinnet Star Knot Studding Sail Sussex Sword Knot Tag Knot Tapir Splice Tarrant Terminal Knot Thimble Eye Timber Hitch Tipton Traverse True Knot Tucked Bend Tulare Turk's Head Wall Knot Water Knot Westchester William G. Fournier William N. Nelson Yard Hitch
Type C1-M-AV7	Coastal Liberator
Type C1-M-AV8	Crossing Knot Flat Knot Marline Bend Persian Knot Single Hitch Solid Sinnet
Type C1-MT-BU1	Arizona Pine California Redwood Oregon Fir Washington Cedar