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USAHS ''Marigold'' was a United States Army hospital ship during WWII. The ship was built as ''Old North State'' in 1920 for the United States Shipping Board as a civilian passenger/cargo liner. The ship changed ownership and operating companies several times with name changes to ''President Van Buren'' and ''President Fillmore'' before being acquired for military transport service in 1941. After government acquisition during World War II ''President Fillmore'' served as a War Shipping Administration troop transport before conversion to hospital ship service. ==Design and construction== ''Old North State'' was one of seven, after a contract adjustment from an original thirteen, Emergency Fleet Corporation Design 1095 passenger/cargo ships, later more frequently known in the industry as the "502" type for the design length of between perpendiculars, ordered in 1919 by the United States Shipping Board to be constructed at New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey.〔Some modern references, in particular the GlobalSecurtiy.org reference here, indicate a "confusion" between "502", the length between perpendiculars used by registers of the time, and "522" which was the length overall. That is not supported in contemporary references which use "502" Type, the "502s" or the "502-foot class" through the 1930s as can be seen in the reference with title "502 Arrives." and McKellar.〕 The design had been for troop transports until signing of the armistice ending World War I made completion as civilian passenger and cargo ships desirable. New York Shipbuilding had the contract for all seven of the "502" class and nine of the "535" class, an order requiring expansion and construction of the company's South Yard, that were to be delivered to the United States Shipping Board (USSB). Originally named ''Old North State'', in honor of the state of North Carolina, the ship was launched 29 February 1920, sponsored by Miss. Magoun, daughter of the shipbuilder's Vice-President. The vessel accommodated 78 passengers, all first class. A contemporary report of her sea trials describes the vessel’s appointments: :”No art of the interior decorator has been spared on this vessel. With its white mahogany finish, its soft-tinted artistic hangings, its open fireplaces and comfortable wicker furniture, the interior presents the aspect of a clubhouse rather than that of a ship… :“In all there are three decks given over to passenger accommodations, designated, respectively, as the promenade deck, bridge deck, and shelter deck, and the arrangement of the public rooms and staterooms provide every convenience and luxury that may be found in a first class hotel. :“All of the staterooms have beds instead of berths and many have private baths attached. The boat deck, which is exceptionally wide and which gives an unobstructed view over the whole ship, is devoted entirely to the recreation of the passengers. The promenade deck is equipped with balanced plate-glass windows giving it the appearance of a Pullman car and providing full protection for the passengers in rough or stormy weather. On this deck too are some special staterooms while at the other end of this deck is the handsomely appointed smoking room, a feature of which is a large open fireplace.” ::- Philadelphia Evening Public Ledger, October 19, 1920 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「USAHS Marigold」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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