Type C4 ship

USS Haven (AH-12), an example of a Type C4 ship, seen here in 1954.
Class overview
Builders:	Kaiser Shipyards of Richmond, California Kaiser Shipyards of Vancouver, Washington Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. of Chester, Pennsylvania Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard of Sparrows Point, Maryland
Operators:	United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM)
Preceded by:	Type C3 class ship
Subclasses:	Six
Completed:	81
General characteristics
Type:	C4-S-A1 troop transport (30 built) C4-S-A3 troop transport (15 built) C4-S-A4 cargo ship (16 built) C4-S-B1 tank carrier (one built) C4-S-B 2 troop transport/hospital ship (14 built) C4-S-B5 cargo/troop transport (five built)
Tonnage:	12,420 gross tons (A1-A4) 11,757 gross tons (B1-B5)
Length:	523 ft (159 m)(A1-A4) 520 ft (160 m) (B1-B5)
Beam:	71.6 ft (21.8 m)
Draft:	29 ft (8.8 m) (A1-A4) 30 ft (9.1 m) (B1-B5)
Propulsion:	Steam turbine 9,900 shp
Speed:	17 knots
Range:	12,000 miles (A1-A4) 14,000 miles (B1-B5)
Complement:	Varied by design type

The Type C4 class ship were the largest cargo ships built by the United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) during World War II. The design was originally developed for the American-Hawaiian Lines in 1941, but in late 1941 the plans were taken over by the MARCOM.

Eighty-one ships were built as cargo or troopships in four shipyards: Kaiser Richmond, CA (35 ships), Kaiser Vancouver, WA (20 ships), Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock in Chester PA (20 ships) and Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point MD (6 ships).

All ships were capable of 17 knots, driven by a single screw steam turbine generating 9,900 shp.

Among the variations of the design were the Haven class hospital ship.

They were followed post-war by thirty-seven of the larger C4-S-1 class, also known as the Mariner class.

Four cargo/passenger liners were built for the Grace Line 1963-1964 by Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point as class C4-S-49a.

The last two C4 ships were constructed in 1966 for the Prudential Lines, also by Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point as class C4-S-49b.