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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

SS Cape Bover (AK-5057)

Cape B Class Breakbulk Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 26 July 1965, as SS Frederick Lykes, a Maritime Administration type (C4-S-66a) hull under Maritime Administration contract (MA 170) at Avondale Industries, New Orleans, LA.
  • Launched, 12 February 1966
  • Delivered to the Maritime Administration, 3 February 1967, for operation by Lykes Bros SS Co.
  • Reacquired by the Maritime Administration and assigned to to Ready Reserve Force anchorage in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun, Benecia, CA.
  • Shifted to a layberth at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco, CA. in 1990
  • When activated SS Cape Bover (AK-5057) was assigned to the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as one of the Military Sealift Command's Modular Cargo Delivery System Ready Reserve Force (RRF) Ships
  • SS Cape Bover was activated for Desert Storm in August 1990 and placed under the operational control of the US Navy’s Military Sealift Command
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA. after being downgraded from RRF to the National Defense Reserve Fleet retention program where it is currently in logistic support status as a source of major equipment spares for the training ship USTS Kennedy (ex-SS Cape Bon (AK-5059)
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,178 t.(lt), 21,840 t.(fl)
    Length 540'
    Beam 76'
    Draft 33' (max.)
    Speed 18 kts.
    Full Operating Status Complement (unknown) Civilian Mariners, Reduced Operational Status 5 maintainers
    Propulsion High speed twin casing cross compound double reduction gear turbine, single propeller
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Merchant Service
    Cape Bover 825k Lykes Line Cargoliner SS Frederick Lykes launching, 12 February 1966, at Avondale Industries, New Orleans, LA.
    Photo from Lykes company magazine "Fleet Flashes"    		 Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    Cape Bover 323k Lykes Line Cargoliner SS Frederick Lykes at anchor, date and location unknown.
    ©Alex Duncan (deceased)    		 Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    Cape Bover 779k Lykes Line Cargoliner SS Frederick Lykes at Beaumont, TX. in 1970.
    Photo from Lykes company magazine "Fleet Flashes"    		 Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    SS Cape Bover (AK-5057)
    Cape Bover 53k SS Cape Bover (AK-5057) moored pierside, date and location unknown. US Maritime Administration
    Cape Bover 69k SS Cape Bover (AK-5057) moored pierside, overhead view, date and location unknown. US Maritime Administration
    Cape Bover 33k SS Cape Bover (AK-5057) moored pierside, date and location unknown. US Maritime Administration
    Cape Bover 29k SS Cape Bover (AK-5057) underway, not under her own power, being moved by two tugs, date and location unknown. US Maritime Administration
    Cape Bover 40k SS Cape Bover (AK-5057) moored pierside in her lay berth, Pier 3 ex-NAS Alameda, circa 1998. Note USS Hornet (CV-12) moored astern of Cape Bover. Photo US Maritime Administration, Caption Michael McDermott
    There is no DANFS history available for SS Cape Bover (AK-5057) at NavSource
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 3 November 2017