Empire State V, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News, Virginia

Significance: Originally built for American President Lines for commercial purposes, the Military Sea Transportation Services instead converted the Empire State V to a troopship. One of three in its class, it was notable for the installation of air conditioning. The Empire State V served for twenty-one years as a troop transport in the Korean and Vietnam wars prior to being decommissioned in 1973. The New York State Maritime College later used it as a training ship for cadets until 1990.

Survey number: HAER VA-131

Building/structure dates: 1949-1952 Initial Construction

Building/structure dates: 1973 Subsequent Work

Building/structure dates: 2007 Demolished

ships war korean war war vietnam conflict navies transportation industry maritime vocational schools shipping newport news va empire empire state v reserve fleet james river reserve fleet newport news virginia james river american president lines charles dodson barrett bay bridge enterprises justine christianson todd croteau dollar line george g sharp company historic american engineering record erhard koehler military sea transportation service military sealift command new york shipbuilding corporation new york state maritime college george g sharp us maritime administration us navy photo navy us marine corps library of congress

1969 - 1980

Library of Congress

http://www.loc.gov/

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