Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

SS Cape Carthage (AK-5042)

Cape C Class Breakbulk Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down in 1963 as SS Margaret Lykes a Maritime Administration type (C3-S-37c) hull under Maritime Administration contract (MA 134) at Avondale Industries, New Orleans, LA. (Official Number 293555)
  • Launched in 1964
  • Delivered to the Maritime Administration in 1964 for operation by Lykes Bros. SS Co.
  • Reacquired by the Maritime Administration in 1984
  • Entered the Maritime Administrations National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Lee Hall, VA., 20 September 1985, renamed SS Cape Carthage, Military Sealift Command (MSC) designation AK-5042
  • When activated SS Cape Carthage (AK-5042) 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 that could be activated in 5 days (RRF-5)
  • Outported a Melvile Marine Industries, (MARAD contract DTMA-91-85-C050572), 12 January 1986, agent, Interocean Management
  • SS Cape Carthage was activated for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1990.
  • Downgraded from the RRF, date unknown, and assigned to the James River Group Maritime Administration Reserve Fleet for stripping
  • Final Disposition, part of a three ship scrapping contract awarded to Esco Marine, Brownsville, TX., 3 March 2008 for a contract total of $1,136,106
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,800 t.(lt) 19,800 t.(fl)
    Length 494' 8"
    Beam 68' 5"
    Draft 19' 6"
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Complement approximately 21
    Propulsion steam turbine, single propeller, 8,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Merchant Service Lykes Bros SS Corp.
    Cape Carthage 219k Lykes Bros. SS Co.'s SS Margaret Lykes being delivered in 1963,
    Photo ©Lykes Fleet Flashes.    		 Gerhard Mueller Debus
    Cape Carthage 89k Lykes Bros. SS Co.'s SS Margaret Lykes moored pierside, Bremerhaven, Germany, 6 November 1977 Photo by Gerhard Mueller Debus
    SS Cape Carthage (AK-5042) - MARAD RRF
    Cape Catoche 53k SS Cape Catoche (AK-5042) and SS Cape Carthage (AK-5043) along with another Ready Reserve Force ship moored in the their layberths at Norfolk, VA., date unknown. US Maritime Administration
    There is no history available for SS Cape Carthage (AK-5042) at NavSource
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Data Base
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To the Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Cargo Ship (AK) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 24 April 2015