TS Golden Bear [III]
The Training Ship Golden Bear (TSGB) serves as the primary training platform on which cadets apply technological skills introduced in the classroom and leadership skills acquired from their work assignments and responsibilities with the Corps of Cadets. Each summer, cadets in their first and third years depart with licensed faculty officers for two months during the annual Training Cruise. During these periods at sea, intellectual learning, applied technology, and leadership development blend daily as cadets apply what they have learned in the classroom, in the lab, in the Corps, and on the waterfront.
The First Training Ship Golden Bear (1946-1971) was built for the Navy as the twelfth of the Attack Cargo Ship "ARTEMIS" class, the ship's keel was laid on 25 September 1944 at Walsh-Kaiser Shipyard, Providence R.I. (hull #1893). It was launched on 11 December 1944 and commissioned on 20 January 1945 as USS MELLENA (AKA-32). The MELLENA served during World War II in the Western Pacific theater and was decommissioned on 11 June 1946 at Mare Island. The ship was then immediately transferred to the California Maritime Academy, where it was commissioned as T.S. GOLDEN BEAR on 07 September 1946. During her time at Cal Maritime she sailed on 24 major ocean cruises. On 14 May 1971, GOLDEN BEAR was decommissioned, then scrapped.
The Second Training Ship Golden Bear (1971-1995) was built as a luxury combination passenger-cargo ship for trips from New Orleans to Buenos Aires Argentina on the "Coffee Run," the DEL ORLEANS was requisitioned by the U.S. Government on 03 Jun 1941. The Navy took control on 09 Jun 1941 and stripped her for duty. She was then commissioned as U.S.S. CRESCENT CITY (AP-40) on 10 Oct 1941. She served during World War II in most of the major campaigns in the western Pacific theater, and redesignated as APA-21 in early 1943. She earned a Navy Unit Commendation and 10 battle stars during WWII before being decommissioned in San Francisco on 30 April 1948 and laid up.
She was then transferred to California Maritime Academy in May 1971, and converted into a school ship. Commissioned as T.S. GOLDEN BEAR II in June 1971, she sailed on 28 major ocean cruises. On 18 July 1995, GOLDEN BEAR II was decommissioned, and placed in the reserve fleet. In 1999, she was acquired by the City of Oakland for use as an art colony and named "ART SHIP". She was sold for scrap in 2004.
Ordered on 28 Jun 1985 under MARAD contract (hull #4667) for the Navy, this ship's keel was laid on 29 July 1986, and launched on 04 Sep 1987 at Bethlehem Steel, Sparrows Point, MD. She was delivered to the Navy on 31 March 1989 and placed in service as USNS MAURY (T-AGS-39). Built for the U.S. Navy as a Hydrographic Survey Vessel to map the deep ocean floor, she was the largest and fastest oceanographic ship ever at the time she was built. Contrary to popular rumors, USNS MAURY did not perform spy missions or "black" operations.
She was placed out of service in Sep 1994 and laid up in Reserve Fleet Suisun Bay. On 01 Oct 1994, she was struck from Navy roles and transferred to MARAD with an agreement signed to transfer her to the California Maritime Academy in the future. After the conversion of her living spaces, she was transferred to Cal Maritime on 04 May 1996 (her sister ship, USNS TANNER, was transferred to Maine Maritime Academy).
T.S.G.B. is the fourth and largest training ship at California Maritime Academy and the third to carry the name GOLDEN BEAR. She is sometimes nicknamed "Square Bear" because of her unique profile. Those working toward a license can feel the responsibility of command, demonstrate their effectiveness as leaders, and refine their technical skills and leadership styles. All students, whether in the license programs or not, can interact with other cultures and learn about the peoples who are their hosts. They can also experience connections to the larger world and develop an understanding of how their selected vocations will function in the context of an international setting. In this way the cruises enhance the global awareness of students as they apply the intellectual and practical training they have received during the school year.
