I sailed on the TOWLE IN 1964 as a 3rd Assistant Engineer.

I don't know about Felixstowe, but I was on her when she docked at Barry, Wales and Glen Douglas, Scotland, among other places. This old ship sailed everywhere, from Peru to the Persian Gulf, and from Greenland to Antarctica. She was the last of over 550 Victory cargo ships still operating, and was laid up in 1980 after 35 years of hard service. Not bad for a ship that was slapped together in two months, and was considered to have served her purpose if she completed a single voyage. The Towle may not have been the most famous ship, but she was a true classic!

Incidentally, the name of this ship was derived from Private John R. Towle, a U.S. Army soldier who was awarded the Congressional medal of Honor posthumously. That was because the ship used to be operated by the U.S. Army Transport Service. In 1950 the administration of the armed services were combined under a single Department of Defense, doing away with a separate War Department and Navy Department. One result was that the Army Transport Service was abolished. All the Army Transport Service's ships, including the Towle, were transferred to the Navy, but they kept their old Army names.

Is PVT correct, NAVSOURCE the main USN site has her as PRIVATE ?

PVT.JOHN R.TOWLE - (IDNo:2247293)
Ship Design:VC2-S-AP3
Builder:Oregon
Location of yard:Portland, Ore.USA
BU Brownsville 6.82 [Andy Machinery Co]

USNS PVT JOHN R.TOWLE

Remember this one calling at Felixstowe in late 60's

rgds
Derek