SOM 19 General William O. Darby

New 1/1250 scale model of the American troop ship USNS General William O. Darby (T-AP-127) by Solent (SOM 19) as in 1960.

Tonnage: 17,000 approximately  Dimensions: 185.6 x 23  Speed: 19 knots  Passengers: up to 4,000 troops  Routes: Various to Far East, Mediterranean, including 135 voyages from New York to Southampton and Bremerhaven between 1956-65.

Maiden voyage: October 1945 as Admiral W. S. Sims, one of eight sister ships. 1946: Handed over to US Army and renamed General William O’ Darby in 1947.  1950: placed in MSTS (Military Sea Transportation Service)  1965: Withdrawn from Atlantic route for service to Vietnam  1968: placed in reserve in New York   1981: towed from the James River to Norfolk Navy Yard, barracks and accommodation ship. 1991: returned to the James River reserve fleet. 2005: scrapped Brownsville Texas.