The SS Curtiss T-AVB-4, is a US Marine Corp aircraft repair ship. She is one of 46 ships assigned to the US Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Ready Reserve Force (RRF). RRF ships are militarily useful ships, mainly RO-ROs, that are kept in a reserve status that will enable them to be activated for military transport service within 5 to 10 days of an activation order from the US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM). USTRANSCOM is a unified, functional combatant command which provides support to the ten other U.S. combatant commands, the military services, defense agencies and other government organizations. MARAD is not a part of the US Department of Defense. MARAD is a part of the US Department of Transportation so the ships do not carry the prefix USS or USNS, but rather SS or MV as applicable. When activated under USTRANSCOM orders RRF ships come under the operational control of the Military Sealift Command (MSC). RRF ships can be identified by red, white, and blue stack stripes, in contrast to the blue and yellow stack stripes of MSC ships.
On September 17, 2019, USTRANSCOM ordered the largest activation of the RRF since 2003 to stress-test the military’s ability to quickly deploy the cargo ships required for a massive troop movement. The no-notice exercise involves 28 vessels from MSC and MARAD. The ships are located on the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf Coasts.
The photo shows the Curtiss returning to port after a quick transit a few miles out to sea and back in again a couple of hours later. Given the timing of this underway period it is probable the Curtiss was one of the RRF ships ordered to activate and managed to successfully, unless her quick out and back was due to mechanical issues.