US Merchant ships

[TimothyC]

Sea Land was unique in the 35 foot containers, and it was the downfall of their dedicated services - and the SL-7 class frieghters.

[Bombhead]

Great series Novice and inreresting about the containers.

[Portsmouth Bill]

Great to see the merchant ships still being developed - there must be an unlimited potential here - well done chaps

[Novice]

After WW2 many companies had their fleets renewed using USMC hulls. One popular hull was that of the C3 S A2 type (this type was also used for the escort carriers conversions, some carriers re-converted to merchant ships-these to be done also).
The Luckenbach Steamship co. taking some eleven ships, represented here by the William Luckenbach


The old firm of Pope & Talbot had six ships, four of which served with the Pacific Argentine Brazil Line Inc. like P & T Forester


Some of these ships were transferred within the US registry, one such is the American Robin of American Foreign Steamship which bought several second-hand ships

[eswube]

Great work.

[Charybdis]

Wonderful drawings.

[Novice]

And the saga continues...
The Seas Shipping also known as Robin Lines operated ships from the eastern seaboard of United States to South Africa. After WW2 the company bought three C3 S A2 type hulls (all converted back to merchant ships from escort carriers, those carriers bein Lend-Leased to Great Britain during the war)

The Robin Kirk was formerly HMS Ameer.

[klagldsf]

That would explain why they have more modern-looking superstructures than other C3 hulls.

[eswube]

Great to see ex-CVE in it's "next life".

[TimothyC]

American Racer was built in 1964, just as containerization became a widespread thing. She was capable of hauling containers in her holds, but this was insufficient for her to retain profitability, and she was converted back to break-buck for US government charter.