Hello, I am looking for a ship called the Patch. My folks came back from Germany in 1964. Any ways where could maybe find that at or to see even if they made a kit. Thanks. Karl
Here’s a link to the USNS GENERAL ALEXANDER M. PATCH (T-AP-122): http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/22/22122.htm
A picture of the PATCH entering Bremerhaven Germany in 1965.
She’s a P2 Admiral Benson class transport. I do believe that I have seen a 1/700 resin kit of either this class or something close to it, but for the life of me I cannot remember where. A good guess would be Pit road.
I can’t help but wonder .How many of these were built ? I see a very strong resemblance to the Lurine , Monterey and Mariposa of Matson Navigation Lines . Oh , and the Matsonia . Tanker - Builder
My dad shipped out on the Lurline for Australia / New Guina, one of the first boatloads of men sent to the Pacific in i942.
Before the war -
After the war -
EJ
Hi;
Just a tidbit ;
I spent some of the nicest times of my life as crew on her as she was doing the L.A.- San Francisco - Honolulu run
Not the same ships tanks. 8 were built by the Maritime Commission, for the USN, then were transferred to the Army.
They are pretty different from the Matsons. Boat deck at least one deck lower, straight up and down stacks, different cargo equipment. About the same length and displacement.
I wish I could remember where I saw that model. Maybe it was Skywave. It was a waterline model, either 1/700 or even smaller scale.
I have to chuckle. I used to work for a great guy, architect. He was a C-119 pilot in Korean War, used to really deprecate people. His favorite was “Why, that guy couldn’t sell ( female kitten) on a Troop Ship!”.
“Female kitten?” Now Im chuckling.
You Know '.
I believe the ship you are talking about was a Skywave model , some years back .1/700 and that’s a shame . We don’t have anywhere a good selection of Fleet support vessels . T.B. P.S. I guess I will be doing conversions till my final sleep !
Hello i was looking for info on the USS Patch. Came across the Atlantic in 61 on her. Do u have any info?
Hello Armybrat.. fellow armybrat here. Dont know if you gave up on this ship, but I am going to attempt to find and modify the 1/350 Lindberg ‘American President Liner’ to look like the Patch. It looks similar on the box art. As a child i sailed on Patch with my family to join dad in Germany, around '62-63 i think. I think we were there when JFK was assassinated. Hope you found something to work on along these lines too.
Ok for anyone that is really interested in this ship…
Se was launched in 1944 as AP-122 USS Admiral R. E. Coontz… She was struck from the Navy records in 1946… The Navy turned her over to the US Army who named her USNS General Alexander M. Patch T-AP-122
She was an Admiral W. S. Benson -class transport…
Her MARAD Type designation was P2-SE2-R1…
There is only one kit I know of for the type…
Lindberg #77224 American President Liner… Purports to be 1/350 scale and looks close… now the differences are plain, none of the P-2 American President liners served with the US military…
(they were launched in 1946) So, it would have to be kit-bashed into a late war MARAD P2 troop transport…
There is [one available on e-Bay] right now… (one of several)
Good info, Egilman thank you! The cargo-handling structures on the Patch are going to be a challenge to replicate. There are plan drawings out on the web that help give an idea of positioning of all that.
I remember the USS Patch.
Sailed her across the Atlantic as a kid from Bremerhaven to New York in 1964. Dad was in the Army at the time.
I distinctly remember seeing the white cliffs of Dover going through the channel on the trip to Bremerhaven. They flew us back to the states when our time was up but i’m not sure what kind of plane. Modelling Patch will definitely be a ‘bashing’…