USNS Henry Gibbins (T-AP-183)

USNS "Henry Gibbins" (T-AP-183) was a troop transport that served with the United States Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) during the 1950s. Prior to her MSTS service, she also served as US Army transport USAT "Henry Gibbins" during World War II. She later served with the New York Maritime Academy as TS "Empire State IV" and with the Massachusetts Maritime Academy as TS "Bay State".

"Henry Gibbins" was laid down as Biloxi under Maritime Commission contract by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Company of Pascagoula, Mississippi, 23 August 1941; launched 11 November 1942; and delivered to the Army Transportation Service 27 February 1943. She was renamed "Henry Gibbins" and served the Army as a troop transport during World War II.

Navy service

"Henry Gibbins" was acquired by the U.S. Navy from the U.S. Army 1 March 1950, and assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service. During the Korean War she transported men and equipment from New York to the Caribbean and Canal Zone ports, prior to their assignment in the Pacific. In 1953, "Henry Gibbins" operated on the New York to Bremerhaven, Germany, and Southampton, England, runs, making a total of 12 cruises to these European ports.

From 1954 until late 1959 the veteran transport steamed from New York to the Caribbean over 75 times, sailed to the Mediterranean on 3 occasions and crossed the Atlantic to Northern Europe 8 times. During this time "Henry Gibbins" shuttled thousands of troops and tons of supplies between the United States and her foreign bases.

"Henry Gibbins" was transferred from MSTS to the United States Maritime Administration 2 December 1959, at Fort Schuyler, New York, for service with the New York Maritime College. The college named her TS "Empire State IV" and she retained that name until being transferred to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1973, whereupon she was renamed TS "Bay State".

crapped after accidents

During the winter of 1976-77 "Bay State" suffered serious ice damage to her hull in Buzzards Bay and Cape Cod Canal. The US Coast Guard condemned the vessel and she was transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for disposal. She was finally scrapped in 1983 after an engine room fire.

References

* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/auxil/ap183.htm USAT "Henry Gibbins"] - DANFS Online.
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/22/22183.htm T-AP-183 "Henry Gibbins"] , Navsource Online.