Posted on Friday, April 16, 2010 by Peter Knego
The 1943-built USNS GENERAL EDWIN D. PATRICK (ex ADMIRAL C.F. HUGHES), last of the P2-SE2-R1 class troop transports (the prototypes of American President Lines’ SS PRESIDENT WILSON and SS PRESIDENT CLEVELAND), has entered BAE Systems’ drydock in San Francisco for keel cleaning en route to her final destination, Brownsville, TX for scrapping. There were originally eight of these ships commissioned for World War Two trooping service. The final pair, the would-be ninth and tenth of the series, were built as the aforementioned passenger liners for APL’s transpacific services. After the PATRICK departs, the GENERAL JOHN S POPE, last of the P2-S2-R2 type transports, will depart her anchorage at Suisuin Bay and follow suit. Many thanks to James Tagliani for the update and image.
The GENERAL EDWIN D. PATRICK at BAE, preparing for her final journey to the breakers. Photo and copyright James Tagliani 2010.
Andy
April 18, 2010 at 6:44 am
It looks like the MISSION SANTA YNEZ must be back in the water. Any pictures of her being towed?
bob
April 19, 2010 at 8:22 am
I realize that this ship along with the others in the mothball fleet have basically been rusting away for 50 years it still makes me sad to see such a beautiful old ship meet its demise.
James
April 19, 2010 at 11:15 am
The Suisuin Bay fleet has been arriving very early in the morning, being dry docked for about a week or so and slipping out of the bay late and night (I assume when bay traffic is slow). I missed the departure of the tanker that was in dry dock last
Dan
April 19, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Thank you so much for the update on these old troop ships. For years I have been wondering about the fate of GENERAL JOHN POPLE. My Dad either took the ship to Korea or back home from the war. I have a black and white photo of the ship that he apparently got onboard.
He never spoke about his experiences in the war and I never heard him comment about his time on the ship.
Like Bob said in a response above, it’s sad to see these old ships go. If anyone ever gets anymore photos of the POPE, I’d love to have them for posterity’s sake. I’d be glad to send anyone a scan of the one I have .
David Walker
April 19, 2010 at 9:45 pm
GREAT pictures! Please keep us posted on her departure when she is towed from San Francisco outbound. Thanks!
glenn
April 20, 2010 at 9:21 am
Amazing how much this ship looks like the old President Roosevelt, which I believe was still around under some other name until just a few years ago but heavily modified in appearance…it’s almost as if the Roosevelt has come back to life…
Peter Knego
April 21, 2010 at 2:25 pm
This is a different class of ship from the ROOSEVELT prototype, although there is some resemblance. These were the prototype of the CLEVELAND and WILSON. The ROOSEVELT was originally a P2-S2-R2, the last of which, the GENERAL JOHN POPE, will be following the PATRICK to the breakers. Stay tuned (hopefully) for more on her, too.
BKT
April 23, 2010 at 10:23 am
I don’t understand why they never sold them to foreign interests if they never planned to use them. Someone could have gotten some use from those strong and sturdy hulls. Look how long the Emerald Seas lasted – wasn’t she based on a similar design?
Peter Knego
April 27, 2010 at 12:29 pm
By the time they were no longer viable as transports, they were too old to be of interest overseas. And because of their fuel consumption and dual machinery spaces, they did not make viable cruise ships. In all her incarnations, EMERALD SEAS only made a profit when fully booked coasting at very slow speeds between Florida and the Bahamas and spending most of her time dockside.
David Walker
April 28, 2010 at 11:38 am
I emailed BAE Systems out in SF and they confirm the ship is scheduled to come out of drydock on 4/29 and is scheduled to leave in tow Friday morning 4/30. Should be quite a sight!
Paul Biddle
April 29, 2010 at 12:15 pm
It’s such ashame that this vessel could not be converted into a hotel ship for San Francisco. It might have become a tourist attraction.
David Walkef
April 29, 2010 at 2:14 pm
BAE now gives Saturday as the possible tow out date for her. Guess it’s wait and see now?
Peter Knego
April 29, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Yeah, I’m told Saturday at 9:00 or 10:00. I think my contact at BAE is getting tired of me checking in with him. Are you speaking to their front office? Do you know what company is doing the tow?
David Walkef
April 29, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Peter, I have been emailing Steven Harrington who is the Director of Operations at BAE Systems San Francisco Ship Repair. He has been cordial enough to always respond. I sent him my webcam grabs of the Rider Victory and Winthrop Victory in the Miraflores Locks and also informed him as an FYI that I had also contacted the Operations Officer at ESCO Marine in Brownsville TX to verify their arrivals, the latter of the two vessels arriving on April 21st.
David Walker
April 29, 2010 at 9:36 pm
Winthrop Victory
http://www.travelserver.net/travelpage/aspgallery/view_ad.asp?Ad_ID=3442
Rider Victory
http://www.travelserver.net/travelpage/aspgallery/view_ad.asp?Ad_ID=3446
David Walker
April 29, 2010 at 9:39 pm
Also do not know the company that is going to tow her. I asked for the names of the tugs to possibly monitor their progress on AIS but didn’t that yet. Sorry.
David Walker
April 29, 2010 at 9:44 pm
Peter, I have been emailing Steven Harrington who is the Director of Operations at BAE Systems San Francisco Ship Repair. He has been cordial enough to always respond. I also sent him the webcam grabs of the Winthrop Victory and Rider Victory in the Miraflores Locks, and that I had contacted the Operations Officer at ESCO Marine in Brownsville TX to verify the two had arrived for scrapping, the latter arriving April 21st.
David Walker
April 30, 2010 at 6:23 am
Some more amazing pictures of her:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/daver6/sets/72157623748766525/
Peter Knego
April 30, 2010 at 8:46 am
Thanks, David! Much appreciated. Let’s hope she goes out as planned…
Cliff Jones
July 6, 2011 at 3:49 pm
Hey Dan…
I too was a passenger on the U.S.S. General John Pope VietNam bound back in 1967. From San Francisco to Vung Tau, VietNam. I was aboard her for 22 days and had a lot of fun while at sea. I was extremely saddened to fin d out that the Pope has been sent to Texas to be turned into razor blades. I sure there had been a way to acquire her before she was condemned to the cutting torch. But I do have many photographs of her that I found on the internet, I would be very happy to send them to you if you like. Pleases let me know if you are interested. Thanks. Cliff.