James River, Reserve Fleet

The James River Reserve Fleet (JRRF) is located on the James River in the U.S. state of Virginia at (37°07′13″N 76°38′47″W / 37.120393°N 76.646469°W / 37.120393; -76.646469) near Fort Eustis. James River Reserve Fleet, a "ghost fleet", is part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet. The Reserve Fleet ships in storage, called "mothballed", that can be ready for use if needed. Many are awaiting scrapping due to the age or condition of the ship. Some ships are used for target practice or as artificial reefs. A few ships became museum ships and other sold to private companies. Ships can be readied for use in 20 to 120 days during national emergencies or natural disaster. ^[1]^[2]^[3] The U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) provides oversight of the James River Reserve Fleet. For the United States Navy ships the United States Navy reserve fleets stored these ships and submarines.^[4]

The James River Reserve Fleet is the oldest National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) opened in 1919. At the start of World War II all 300 ships in the fleet were put into service. The current Reserve Fleet was opened in 1946 to store and maintains the many surplus ships after World War II. Some ships there were reactivated for Korean War, Vietnam War and 600-ship Navy program. In the 1950s the fleet had over 800 ships, with all fleets having over 2,000 ships stored. Many of the ships were World War II Liberty ships and Victory ships. ^[5]^[6] The other large Reserve Fleets in the 1950s are the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet inland from San Francisco Bay and the Beaumont Reserve Fleet in Texas. As of December 2022^[update], nine ships remain in the fleet.^[7]

Special projects[edit]

The fleet was used for surplus grain storage. Liberty ships laid up in the James River Reserve Fleet were used by the Commodity Credit Corporation for storage of surplus grain. In 1950s the United States Department of Agriculture purchased and store surplus grain in ship's cargo holds.^[8]

The James River Reserve Fleet is also used for training. Team train for search-and-seizure, hostage rescue, helicopter approach then hover and more.^[9]

Part of the Reserve Fleet is a newer program called Ready Reserve Force (RRF).

Inventory[edit]

As of 29 February 2024^[update]:^[10]


Name	Division	Hull No.	Year Built	Design	Home Port	Status
Retention - Passenger Ship
Invincible	Gulf	412	1987	Navy Ocean Survey	JRRF, Ft. Eustis, VA	Interim hold
Retention - Crane Ship
Flickertail State	Atlantic	T-ACS 5	1967	C5-S-MA73c	JRRF, Ft. Eustis, VA	Logistics Support
Retention - Break Bulk
Cape Ann	Atlantic	AK 5009	1962	C4-S-58a	JRRF, Ft. Eustis, VA	Training Use
Cape Avinof	Atlantic	AK 5013	1963	C4-S-58a	JRRF, Ft. Eustis, VA	Training Use
Non-retention - Break Bulk
Cape Juby	Atlantic	TAK 5077	1962	C4-S-1u	JRRF, Ft. Eustis, VA	Disposal
Non-retention - Roll-On/Roll-Off
Maj. Stephen W. Pless	Atlantic	T-AK 3007	1983	RORO Combination	JRRF, Ft. Eustis, VA	Disposal
PFC Eugene A. Obregon	Atlantic	T-AK 3006	1985	RORO Combination	JRRF	Disposal
Sgt. Matej Kocak	Atlantic	T-AK 3005	1981	RORO Combination	JRRF, Ft. Eustis, VA	Disposal
Non retention - Tanker
Walter S. Diehl	Atlantic	T-AO 193	1987	Fleet Replenishment Oiler	JRRF, Ft. Eustis, VA	Disposal

Notable former ships[edit]

USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7), amphibious assault ship, was used as a target off Virginia Capes in May 1995. She was used to recover Gemini and Apollo astronauts in Atlantic Ocean.

SS Charles H. Cugle, became the SS Sturgis (MH-1A), was a Liberty ship used to test nuclear power. A nuclear power plant was placed in her, used at the Panama Canal, scrapped in 2015.^[11]

USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg (T-AGM-10). Sunk as an artificial reef in May 2009 off Key West.

USS General Nelson M. Walker was a Troopship used in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Art Beltrone, a military historian, found troop art in the stored ship, now on display.