USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien (T-AK-246) was a US Maritime Administration (MARCOM) C1-M-AV1 type coastal cargo ship, originally planned as an Alamosa-class cargo ship. Constructed as Maiden's Eye for the MARCOM, completed in August 1945 and placed in operation by the War Shipping Administration (WSA). After the war Maiden's Eye was transferred to the US Army and renamed USAT Colonel William J. O’Brien who kept her in service until transferred to the US Navy in 1950 for operation as USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien (T-AK-246) by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) until 1973.

The ship was laid down as Maiden's Eye, one of the "Knot" ships named for a type of splice, on 17 January 1945 and launched, sponsored by Mrs. Thomas S. Middleton, on 13 February 1945 at Consolidated Steel Corporation, Long Beach, California, as a type (C1-M-AV1) under MARCOM contract, MC hull 2323.^[3][2][4] She was acquired by the US War Shipping Administration (WSA) on 10 April 1945 with operation by Grace Line as WSA's agent.^[3]

On 11 July 1946, Maiden's Eye was assigned to the U.S. Army under bareboat charter for operation as USAT Colonel William J. O'Brien until transferred to the US Navy 1 March 1950.^[3] The Army name was retained with the ship immediately transferred to the MSTS as USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien (T-AK-246) for permanent assignment.^[5] USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien was stricken from the Navy List on 1 September 1973.^[2]

Title was returned to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) on 9 November 1973 with sale to B. V. Intershitra of the Netherlands for $223,550 for scrapping.^[6]

Citations

• Photo gallery of USS Colonel William J. O'brien (AK-246) at NavSource Naval History