The Type R ship is a United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) designation for World War II refrigerated cargo ship, also called a reefer ship. The R type ship was used in World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and the Cold War. Type R ships were used to transport perishable commodities which require temperature-controlled transportation, such as fruit, meat, fish, vegetables, dairy products and other foods. The US Maritime Commission ordered 41 new refrigerated ships for the US Navy. Because of the difficulty of building refrigerated ships only two were delivered in 1944, and just 26 were delivered in 1945 and the remainder in 1946–48. The 41 R type ships were built in four groups. Two of design types were modified type C1 ships and two were modified type C2 ships. The United Fruit Company operated many of the R type ships in World War II. The type R2-S-BV1 became the US Navy Alstede-class stores ship and the type R1-M-AV3 became the US Navy Adria-class stores ship. [1][2][3][4]
R2-S-BV1 Alstede-class stores ship, 5,008 DWT, built by Moore Dry Dock CompanyofOakland, California in 1945. Used carrying frozen meat to Allied forces in World War II. Hull is close to C2-SU type ships. Displacement: 6,319 t.(lt), length: 469 ft (143 m), beam: 63 ft (19 m), draft: 26 ft (7.9 m), speed: 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) max., crew complement: 64, propulsion: cross-compound turbines, single propeller.[5]
R2-ST-AU1 6,148 DWT, built by Gulf Shipbuilding CorporationinChickasaw, Alabama in 1945–1946. Also had accommodations for twelve passengers in six cabins. Owned by the United Mail Steamship Company. Ships were operated by United Fruit Company / Great White Fleet.[7][8]
R1-M-AV3 Adria-class ship, 7,435 DWT, built by Pennsylvania Shipyards, Inc.inBeaumont, Texas in 1944–1945, Hull was close to a type C1-M-AV1. Specs: 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) max, length: 338 ft (103 m), beam: 50 ft (15 m), draught: 18 ft (5.5 m), diesel engine, single screw, 1,700 shp (1,300 kW).
R2-ST-AU1 6,148 DWT, built by Newport News ShipbuildinginNewport News, Virginia in 1947. Twin screw with two 6,600 shp (4,900 kW) geared turbines, max. speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). Also called a banana boat. Length 138.82 meters (455 ft 5 in), beam: 18.67 meters (61 ft 3 in), depth: 10.83 meters (35 ft 6 in), draught: 8.28 meters (27 ft 2 in) and Refrigerated: 333,900 cubic feet (9,450 m3). Owner and operator United Fruit Steamship Corporation Inc., New York, New York.[14]
R1-S-DH1 Yaque class. 5,008 DWT, built Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point, Maryland in 1947–1948, Engine: De Laval Turbine Company Inc., Trenton, New Jersey, 6,050 hp (4,511 kW), 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph), Length: 117.66 meters (386 ft 0 in), derricks 9, winches 8. For United Fruit Company, Inc., New York, New York. Used to move tropical fruit and vegetables during war. Smallest of the R ships. Also had a few passenger cabins.
