Bethlehem Steel Company at Sparrows Point, Maryland.[4] She was launched on 9 October 1937 as the third of four tankers built at Sparrows Point for Gulf Oil. The construction made greater use of welding than in the previous two tankers of the series.[5] She was delivered to Gulf Oil on 1 December 1937.[4]
Characteristics
Gulfwave was 442 feet (134.7 m) in length overall, 426.4 feet (130 m) in registered length, 64.2 feet (19.6 m) in beam, and had a design draft of 27 feet 6 inches (8.4 m).[2][5] Propulsion was by a set of General Electric double-reduction geared turbines, developing about 3,000 shaft horsepower (2,237 kW), driving a single 17-foot-6-inch (5.3 m) propeller for a maximum speed of about 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).[5]
Service history
Gulfwave operated with the Gulf Oil fleet until taken by the War Shipping Administration for World War II service on 20 April 1942. Gulf Oil subsequently operated her under an agreement with the United States Army, revised to a time charter on 29 June 1944. After the war, the ship returned to company operations on 20 November 1945.[3]