Hamul-class destroyer tender
The Hamul class were a class of destroyer tenders that were initially constructed as attack cargo ships for the United States Navy during World War II. They operated from 1941 to 1969.
_at_anchor_in_Great_Sound%252C_Bermuda%252C_on_15_July_1944_(NH_86270).jpg.webp) Hamul at anchor in Great Sound, Bermuda, on 15 July 1944 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Hamul class |
| Operators |  United States Navy |
| Preceded by | Dixie class |
| Succeeded by | Klondike class |
| Completed | 2 |
| Retired | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Destroyer tender |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 492 ft 5 in (150.09 m) oa |
| Beam | 69 ft 8 in (21.23 m) |
| Draft | 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m) |
| Propulsion | Geared turbines, 8,500 shp (6,300 kW), single propeller |
| Speed | 18.4 knots (34.1 km/h; 21.2 mph) |
| Complement | 857 |
| Armament |
|
Design and description
_underway_on_7_October_1942.jpg.webp)
Initially both ships were commercial cargo ships of the C3 type[1] taken over by the United States Navy during World War II and converted to attack cargo ships. The ships measured 465 feet (142 m) long between perpendiculars and 492 ft 5 in (150.09 m) overall with a beam of 69 ft 8 in (21.23 m) and a draft of 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m).[2][3] As attack cargo ships, they had a displacement of 11,755 long tons (11,944 t).[3][4] After their conversion to destroyer tenders, they had a light displacement of 8,860 long tons (9,000 t) and measured 14,800 long tons (15,000 t) at full load. They were powered by steam generated from two Foster Wheeler boilers turning geared turbines creating 8,500 shaft horsepower (6,300 kW). This gave them a maximum speed of 18.4 knots (34.1 km/h; 21.2 mph). The ships were armed with a single 5-inch (127 mm)/38-caliber gun, four single-mounted 3 in (76 mm)/50 cal. guns and four 1.6 in (40 mm) guns.[lower-alpha 1] They had a complement of 857 officers and enlisted personnel.[5]
Ships in class
| Hamul class construction data[4][6] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull number | Name | Builder | Launched | Acquired by US Navy | Commissioned | Fate |
| AK-30/AD-20 | Hamul (ex-Doctor Lykes) | Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey | 6 April 1940 | 5 June 1941 | 15 June 1941 | Broken up for scrap 1975 |
| AK-31/AD-21/AR-23 | Markab (ex-Mormacpenn) | Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi | 21 December 1940 | 2 June 1941 | 15 June 1941 | Broken up for scrap 1977[7] |
Notes
- The 50 and 38 calibers denote the length of the guns. This means that the length of the gun barrel is 50 and 38 times the bore diameter respectively.
Citations
- Blackman 1960, p. 380.
- Blackman 1967, p. 426.
- Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II, p. 297.
- Hamul.
- Blackman 1953, p. 437.
- Markab.
- "MARKAB (AR-23)". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
References
- Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. (1953). Jane's Fighting Ships 1953–54. London: Sampson, Low and Marston. OCLC 913556389.
- Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. (1960). Jane's Fighting Ships 1960–61. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. OCLC 946722815.
- Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. (1967). Jane's Fighting Ships 1967–68. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. OCLC 973423148.
- "Hamul (AK-30)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II. Avenel, New Jersey: Crescent Books. 1995 [1946]. ISBN 0-517-679639.
- "Markab". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 24 January 2023.