Appalachian-class command ship

Class of command ships of the United States Navy

USS Catoctin in 1944

Class overview
Name| Appalachian class
Builders|

* Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.
* Moore Dry Dock Co.

Operators|  United States Navy
Succeeded by| Mount McKinley class
Built| 1942–1943
In service| 1943–1947
Planned| 4
Completed| 4
Retired| 4
General characteristics
Type|

* Command ship
* type C2-S-B1

Displacement|

* 7,431 t (7,314 long tons), light load
* 13,910 t (13,690 long tons), full load

Length| 459 ft 3 in (139.98 m)
Beam| 63 ft (19 m)
Draft| 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
Installed power|

* 1 × propeller
* 6,000 shp (4,474 kW)
* 465 psi (3,206 kPa)

Propulsion|

* 1 × General Electric geared turbine
* 2 × Foster Wheeler D-type boilers

Speed| 16.4 knots (30.4 km/h; 18.9 mph)
Capacity|

* 655 bbls diesel
* 23,499 bbls NSFO

Troops|

* 128 officers
* 334 enlisted

Complement|

* 36 officers
* 442 enlisted

Sensors and
processing systems| 1 × SK-1 air-search radar
Armament|

* 2 × single 5"/38 caliber guns
* 8 × single Oerlikon 20 mm cannons
* 4 × twin Bofors 40 mm guns

The Appalachian-class command ship was a ship class of command ships of the United States Navy during World War II. All 4 ships were converted from the Type C2-S-B1 cargo ships.[1]

## Development[edit]

Four type C2 cargo ships were converted into command ships for the United States Navy throughout the middle stages of World War II. After the war, all were slightly modernized and decommissioned in 1947 to later scrapped.

The ship's hull remained nearly the same but with new equipment to carry out her purpose now placed on deck alongside several cranes. The ships' armaments had been slightly changed and relocated in order for the ships to carry out their new roles.[1] All ships served in the Pacific Theater until the end of the war with no ships lost in combat.

## Ships in the class[edit]

Appalachian class command ship  |

|

Hull no. | Name  | Builder  | Laid down  | Launched  | Commissioned  | Decommissioned  | Fate
AGC-1  | Appalachian | Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. | 4 November 1942  | 29 January 1943  | 2 October 1943  | 21 May 1947  | Scrapped, 1960
AGC-2  | Blue Ridge | 4 December 1942  | 7 March 1943  | 27 September 1943  | 14 March 1947  | Scrapped, 18 August 1960
AGC-3  | Rocky Mount | 4 December 1942  | 7 March 1943  | 16 October 1943  | 22 March 1947  | Scrapped, 1 March 1973
AGC-5  | Catoctin | Moore Dry Dock Co. | 1942  | 23 January 1943  | 24 January 1944  | 26 February 1947  | Scrapped, 1959–1960

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ^ a b U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. 2002. ISBN 1-55750-250-1.

## References[edit]

* Photo gallery of USS Appalachian at NavSource Naval History - lead ship of the class (other AGC ships listed as well)
* United States Navy. 1959-1991. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
* 2002\. U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-250-1.

* v
* t
* e

Appalachian-class command ships

* Appalachian
* Blue Ridge
* Rocky Mount
* Catocin

* Preceded by: None
* Followed by: USS Duane (planned) / Mount McKinley class (actual)

* List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships

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*[t]: Discuss this template
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