The USS Orion (AC–11) was a U.S. Navy collier constructed by the Maryland Steel Co. in Sparrows Point, Maryland. Laid down on October 6, 1911, and launched on March 23, 1912, Orion was notable for setting a new world record for rapid construction at the time. She was commissioned at Norfolk on July 29, 1912, and featured a design based on the Isherwood System of longitudinal framing, which contributed to weight savings and increased cargo capacity. Her propulsion system comprised two triple-expansion steam engines powered by three Scotch boilers, driving two 16.5-foot propellers, allowing her to reach an average trial speed of approximately 14.5 knots. Orion's cargo capacity was significant, with six large, self-trimming coal holds capable of carrying 2,248 short tons of coal, and four deep tanks forward under the lower deck, along with tanks in the inner bottom, holding up to 772,400 gallons of oil. Her design allowed for efficient loading and unloading, with hatch handling rates exceeding 100 short tons per hour. Initially assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, Orion served primarily in the western Atlantic until she was placed in reserve at Norfolk in October 1914. Recommissioned later that year, she continued her collier duties until January 1917 when she was ordered to the Philippines, arriving at Cavite. During World War I, she operated in the Atlantic, including at Ponta Delgada in the Azores, where she notably engaged in a gun duel with the German U-boat U-155 during its bombardment of the port on July 4, 1917. Her crew received the Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword for their actions. Throughout the war, Orion transported coal and personnel between various ports, including Brazil, Montevideo, and New York, and was involved in anti-submarine actions. After the war, she supported the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, providing crucial logistical support along the west coasts of North and South America until her decommissioning at Norfolk on June 18, 1926. Struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1931, she was sold in 1933, marking the end of her service. Her operational history highlights her role as a vital logistical vessel during a transformative period in naval history.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.