New Bedford was one of the Army's numerous coastal freighters of the WWII era. She was constructed by Wheeler Shipbuilding, Long Island, New York, and completed in 1945. In 1950 New Bedford was transferred to the Navy as T-AKL 17, and later converted as a torpedo test vessel. She was finally redesignated IX 308 in 1971.

She was one of many ex-US Army FS-series vessels serving as US Navy auxiliaries, including at least one other torpedo test vessel, IX 306. The most famous of this group was the "research" ship Pueblo and her sisters Banner and Palm Beach, although these three were more extensively converted from their Army configuration.

After decades of service at Keyport, WA, New Bedford was sold to private owners in 1996 and later converted to this configuration as Sea Bird. Her original Army configuration is still obvious even 60 years after her completion, and several features identify her as ex-New Bedford. In particular, her bulwarks', the small crane forward, and scuppers match New Bedford and indicate her former identity.

Camano Class Light Cargo Ship: Laid down, 1944 for the US Army as FS-289 at Wheeler Shipbuilding, Whitestone, N.Y. Delivered to the US Army in 1945 Acquired by the US Navy, 1 July 1950 Placed in service as USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17), 1961 Placed out of service in 1963 Reclassified Miscellaneous Unclassified, (IX-308), 1971 New Bedford (IX-308) served as a Torpedo Test Firing Vessel in the Puget Sound area Struck from the Naval Register, 4 April 1995 Sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service, for commercial service, 11 June 1996 Current Disposition, tuna long liner (fishing boat) Sea Bird out of San Diego, CA.

Specifications:
Displacement 414 t.(lt) 940 t.(fl)
Length 177'
Beam 32'
Draft 10'
Speed 12 kts.
Propulsion two 500hp GM Cleveland Division 6-278A 6-cyl V6 diesel engines, twin screws

KEYNOTES: Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport Volume 30, November 18th, 1994, No 22 On Oct. 28, the flag was lowered for the last time on USNV New Bedford (IX-308). The out-of-service ceremony marked the end of a long and varied career for the craft and also closed a chapter in cinematic history.

Although the New Bedford (T-AKL-17) gave almost 50 years of service to the United States military, she is probably best remembered as the ship used in the filming of the 1954 movie classic "Mister Roberts."

Starring the great screen stars Henry Fonda, James Cagney and Jack Lemmon, this film was one of many comedic retrospectives of World War II.

Audio clips from the film provided backdrop for the out-of-service ceremony. Voices of "ghosts" from the past punctuated the celebration with the highlight coming at the conclusion of the ceremony when Ensign Pulver, played by Code 80's Steve Schultz, ran down the brow of the craft, palm tree in hand, to toss it over the pier in one last defiant act. Fun and theatrics aside, the ceremony also paid tribute to the craft with all the pomp and service to the military throughout her illustrious career. Musical selections were played by Navy Band Seattle, and Olympic Chorus of the Northwest (courtesy of the Federal Managers' Association) sang the National anthem and other selections.

The Honorable Rosemary Tierney, Mayor of the City of New Bedford, Mass., attended the ceremony honoring her city's namesake. She was accompanied by retired Navy Captain Frederick R. Purrington. Capt. Purrington retired with over 20 years as a former Navy pilot and past squadron commander. He spent six years and four months as a prisoner of war in Hanoi. He is currently a distinguished resident of the city of New Bedford.
New Bedford was built in 1945 at Whitestone, New York, by Wheeler Shipbuilding Company. She was originally designated FS-289 (freight and supply) as as Army cargo ship. She was transferred to the Navy in 1950 and designated the "USNS New Bedford" (AKL-17). It was her size and the fact that she was a coastal freighter sailing out of Port Hueneme (near Los Angles) that landed her the part in the movie.

The New Bedford is also the sister ship of the ill-fated Pueblo, which was captured by the North Koreans in 1968 and whose crew was imprisoned for 11 months.

The IX-308 came to Keyport in 1963 and was converted for torpedo testing duty and assigned service-craft status. During this assignment, she steamed over 310,000 nautical miles. She was equipped with both surface and underwater launchers and associated fire control equipment. She has supported proofing, acceptance testing and research work on Keyport's ranges since that time. During these pas 31 years, the New Bedford has: 1) fired over 7200 units (torpedoes, targets, etc.); 2) recovered more than 900 units; 3) planted more than 5425 range buoys; 4) retrieved over 4650 range buoys; 5) made several port calls to Vancouver and Nanaimo, British Columbia and two trips to San Diego. Where she resides now.

Mister Roberts was originally a hit on the Broadway stage.
Henry Fonda re-created his stage role for the film.
Cagney blended humor into the otherwise one dimensional part of the Captain.
William Powell played doc and Jack Lemmon began a whole career out of his role as Pulver.

It was filmed on the South Pacific island of Midway and aboard the U.S.S. New Bedford FS 289.

Director John Ford became ill while filming and Mervyn Leroy completed the film, both received screen credit, nominated for three academy awards including best picture, Lemmon won for best supporting actor. Before it's release Cagney, Fonda and Lemmon re-created scenes on the Ed Sullivan Show"

James Cagney is simply great as the Captain of the ship, a little man in size and soul who makes life aboard tedious and unbearable for the men under him, Audiences will enter whole-heartedly into the sailors' conspiracy against Cagney and enjoy thoroughly the comedy that results.

Nav Source - a webpage with information and pictures of the New Bedford from 1944 to the present day Seabird Adventure	Probably the most detailed article about the New Bedford when it was used as a supply ship for the Texas Towers	A very large image gallery of the AKL-17 New Bedford (now The Seabird)
A newspaper article from South Coast Today detailing the events that took place throughout the history of the New Bedford.	USAF Texas Tower Association's website which includes resources such as general information, reunion information, links, and images.