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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Benjamin Isherwood (T-AO-191)


Henry J. Kaiser Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 12 July 1986, at Pennsylvania Shipbuilding, Chester, PA.
  • Launched, 15 December 1988, without ceremony
  • Contract canceled 31 August 1989
  • Towed to Naval Shipyard Philadelphia, PA., 27 October 1989 along with Henry Eckford (T-AO-192) for lay up
  • New contract awarded, 16 November 1989, to Tampa Shipbuilding to complete the ship
  • Christened Benjamin Isherwood (T-AO-191) at Tampa Shipbuilding, 7 December 1991
  • Tampa Shipbuilding defaulted on the contract and it was canceled, 15 August 1993
  • The 95% complete Benjamin Isherwood was turned over to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 29 December 1997
  • Title transfer to MARAD, 1 February 1999, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Final Disposition, withdrawn from reserve, 12 July 1011, for towing to Brownsville, TX. for dismantling
    Specifications:
    Displacement 9,500 t.(lt) 42,382 t.(fl)
    Length 677'
    Beam 97' 5"
    Draft 35' (max.)
    Armament none
    Cargo Capacity 178,000 bbls
    Speed 20 kts.
    Complement Civilian Mariners-18 Officers, 64 Merchant Seamen, Navy-1 Officer, 20 Enlisted
    Aircraft helicopter platform only
    Propulsion two medium speed Colt-Pielstick PC4-2/2 10V-570 diesel engines, twin shafts, 16,000 hp per shaft

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    Benjamin Isherwood
    091919115
    42k
    Namesake
    Benjamin Franklin Isherwood (October 6, 1822 – June 19, 1915) was an engineering officer in the United States Navy during the early days of steam-powered warships. He served as a ship's engineer during the Mexican–American War, and after the war did experimental work with steam propulsion. Rising to the rank of rear admiral, as Engineer-in-Chief of the Navy during the Civil War, he helped to found the Navy's Bureau of Steam Engineering. (Wikipedia)
    Photo - Engineer-in-Chief of the U.S. Navy Benjamin F. Isherwood by Mathew Brady -Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Online Catalog
    Tommy Trampp
    Benjamin Isherwood 148k Benjamin Isherwood (T-AO-191) under construction at the Pennsylvania Shipbuilding yard at Chester, PA., circa 1986-1989. Ron Reeves
    Benjamin Isherwood 91k Benjamin Isherwood (T-AO-191) being tied up at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. 27 October 1989, after being towed from the Pennsylvania Shipbuilding yard at Chester, PA. Ron Reeves
    Benjamin Isherwood 69k Benjamin Isherwood (T-AO-191) at Tampa Shipbuilding ready for Christening and turn over to the Maritime Administration in December 1991. Jack Smith
    Benjamin Isherwood 260k Christening ceremony pamphlet for Benjamin Isherwood (T-AO-191) held at Tampa Shipbuilding, 7 December 1991 Ron Reeves
    Benjamin Isherwood 99k Benjamin Isherwood (T-AO-191) Christening ceremony, 7 December 1991, at Tampa Shipbuilding, Tampa, FL. Tommy Trampp
    Henry Eckford 327k Henry Eckford (T-AO-192) and (inboard) Benjamin Isherwood (T-AO-191) are moored at Tampa, FL., 19 February 1994. The two ships have been under construction since 1986, partially completed first by Penn Shipbuilding and then Tampa Shipbuilding. Final disposition has not yet been decided upon. The feasibility of converting them into ammunition ships is being studied.
    DVIC photo # DN-SC-94-02344 by OS2 John Bouvia, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the Defense Visual Information Center
    Bill Gonyo
    Henry Eckford 310k Benjamin Isherwood (T-AO-191) tied up at the Norfolk Ship Building and Dry Dock Corp. Norfolk, VA., 26 August 1994. NORSHIPCO is preparing the ship for long term storage since the feasibility of converting her to an ammunition ship has been discarded. The guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60) on the right, is under routine overhaul at NORSHIPCO.
    DVIC photo # DN-SC-95-00678 by Don S. Montgomery, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the Defense Visual Information Center
    Bill Gonyo
    Henry Eckford 307k A starboard bow view of Henry Eckford (T-AO-192) and Benjamin Isherwood (T-AO-191) tied up at the Norfolk Ship Building and Dry Dock Corp. Norfolk, VA..26 August 1994. The two ships are being prepared by NORSHIPCO for long term storage as the feasibility of converting them to ammunition ships proved cost prohibitive.
    DVIC photo # DN-SC-95-00677 by Don S. Montgomery, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the Defense Visual Information Center
    Bill Gonyo
    Benjamin Isherwood 71k Ex- Henry Eckford (T-AO-192) (left) and Ex- Benjamin Isherwood (T-AO-191) (right) in reserve. Laid up in the MARAD National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA., April 2009. According to MARAD both ships are priced too high for foreign sale and cannot be used in US waters because they are single hulled tankers. Photos by Mike Hibbard
    Benjamin Isherwood 58k
    Benjamin Isherwood 29k Ex- Benjamin Isherwood (T-AO-191) laid up in the MARAD National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA. Ron Reeves
    Caloosahatchee 434k Aerial view of Unit 7 of the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA., 28 January 1999. From bottom to top;
    unidentified,
    Santa Cruz
    Vulcan (AR-5),
    Redstone (T-AGM-20),
    2 unidentified APs,
    GEN. N.M. Walter (T-AP-125),
    GEN. Wm. O. Darby (IX-510),
    Waccamaw (T-AO-109),
    Canisteo (AO-99),
    Caloosahatchee (AO-98),
    Mississinewa (T-AO-144),
    Pawcatuck (T-AO-108)
    Truckee (T-AO-147),
    Neosho (T-AO-143),
    Benjamin Isherwood (T-AO-191) and
    Henry Eckford (T-AO-192). These two oilers were both lay-berthed incomplete.
     
    Benjamin Isherwood 114k Ex- Benjamin Isherwood (T-AO-191) bing dismantled at Brownsville, TX., August 2011.
    Photos courtesy Captain United.
    Ron Reeves

    There is no DANFS history for Benjamin Isherwood (T-AO-191) at NavSource
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    MARAD Vessel History Database
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 21 May 2021