SS Marine Robin 1943 Overview and Military History

The SS Marine Robin was a British merchant navy ship that played a significant role in World War II.

Launched in 1943, the SS Marine Robin was a relatively new vessel at the time of its service.

It was built by the British shipbuilding company, Harland and Wolff, in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The ship was designed to transport cargo and supplies across the globe, and its size and capacity made it an essential asset to the war effort.

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The SS Marine Robin was a ship with a rich history. It was constructed for the Maritime Commission by Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company in Chester, Pennsylvania.

The keel was laid on January 22, 1943. This marked the beginning of the ship's construction process.

The SS Marine Robin had a diverse range of operations during its time in service. The ship was operated by Grace Lines, Inc. as the WSA operating agent from its delivery on April 29, 1944, until its layup on March 10, 1947.

It made at least one non-troop voyage in May 1944, transporting agricultural workers from Jamaica to New York. The ship departed Kingston, Jamaica on May 31 and arrived in New York on June 5, 1944.

The ship's maiden troop-carrying voyage took place in August 1944, departing Norfolk, Virginia and arriving at Naples, where it operated in the Mediterranean for two months. During that time, it was assigned to Task Force 85.3.2, Transport Group, Section II for Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France.

The ship played a significant role in the invasion, embarking troops, including elements of the 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized), at Naples on August 8-9, 1944. It landed at Yellow Beach near Sainte-Maxime on August 15, 1944, just hours after the assault began.

After the invasion, the ship returned to New York via Gibraltar, then departed for Liverpool in convoy CU 43, arriving on October 25, 1944. The ship went on to make three more Atlantic voyages transporting troops to the United Kingdom.

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The SS Marine Robin was delivered to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) on April 29, 1944.

The ship's first month of operation was spent making at least one commercial lift without troops, departing from Kingston, Jamaica on May 31, 1944 and arriving in New York on June 5, 1944.

This voyage carried agricultural workers from Jamaica who were entered as aliens by immigration authorities.

After its maiden voyage, the ship began its troop transport duties, departing from Norfolk, Virginia on August 8, 1944, and arriving at Naples to spend the next two months operating in the Mediterranean.

The ship was assigned to Task Force 85.3.2, Transport Group, Section II for Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France.

The convoy put to sea on August 13, 1944, and after transiting between Corsica and Sardinia, the ship was in position just over the horizon from the beaches by 0400 on August 15, 1944.

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Following the assault troops, those aboard Marine Robin landed at Yellow Beach near Sainte-Maxime about three hours after the assault began.

The ship's Navy Armed Guard was awarded a Navy "Battle Star" for the Invasion of Southern France on August 15, 1944 to September 25, 1944.

After the invasion, the ship returned to New York via Gibraltar, then departed on October 14, 1944, in convoy CU 43 of 23 ships, arriving in Liverpool on October 25, 1944.

The ship made three more Atlantic voyages transporting troops to the United Kingdom before beginning to include ports in France as well as the U.K. in January 1945.

On June 2, 1945, freed prisoners of war boarded the ship at Le Havre for return home, with General Eisenhower addressing them before departure.

The ship could not take all the freed POWs without double loading, but they voted to double bunk and leave no one behind.

The ship transported troops from the India-Burma area to Seattle, passing within sight of Okinawa and glimpsing Mount Fuji before skirting the Aleutians and encountering heavy seas.

The ship was released from troop transport duty in April 1946, after making a trip to Yokohama, Japan and returning to San Francisco on April 4, 1946.

After World War II, the Marine Robin was placed in reserve, like many of her C4 sister ships, on 10 March 1947 in the James River Reserve Fleet.

The ship remained in the reserve fleet until 29 December 1950, when a contract of sale with Wisconsin & Michigan Steamship Company was made.

The title was passed to the company on 29 June 1951, but the ship was still maintained in custody of the Maritime Administration until it was withdrawn by the new owner on 22 October 1951.

The Marine Robin has had several owners since then, with VanEnkevort Tug & Barge acquiring the vessel in 2015.

The ship's history is a testament to the importance of reserve fleets in maintaining the nation's maritime capabilities during times of peace.

Here are some key facts about the Marine Robin's reserve fleet history: