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16/09/2005: "USAT LIBERTY SHIP hull number 1230 Francis Preston Blair"
Liberty ships were being launched at the rate of one every day to ferry supplies for the war effort. Many were sunk by submarines.
Cameraman Walt Deas reports (August 2005) "Francis Preson Blair has now totally collapsed".
Liberty Ships built by the United States Maritime Commission in World War II
Liberty ship was the name given to the EC2 type ship designed for "Emergency" construction by the United States Maritime Commission in World War II. Liberty ships, nicknamed "ugly ducklings" by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
The first of the 2,751 Liberty ships was the SS Patrick Henry, launched on Sept. 27, 1941, and built to a standardized, mass produced design. The 250,000 parts were pre-fabricated throughout the country in 250-ton sections and welded together in about 70 days.
One Liberty ship, the SS Robert E. Peary was built in four and a half days. A Liberty cost under $2,000,000.
The Liberty was 441 feet long and 56 feet wide. Her three-cylinder, reciprocating steam engine, fed by two oil-burning boilers produced 2,500 hp and a speed of 11 knots. Her 5 holds could carry over 9,000 tons of cargo, plus airplanes, tanks, and locomotives lashed to its deck. A Liberty could carry 2,840 jeeps, 440 tanks, or 230 million rounds of rifle ammunition.
Liberty Ship Crew
Liberty’s carried a crew of about 44 with 12 to 25 Naval Armed Guard.
Some were armed with:
• One 4 or 5 inch stern gun
• Two 37 mm bow guns
• Six 20 mm machine guns
About 200 Liberty’s were lost to torpedoes, mines, explosions, kamikazes, etc. during WWII. ]
Liberty Ship List with Launching dates
The list is by full name including initials and includes the Maritime Commission Hull Number for all Liberty ships built.
WSAT stands for War Shipping Administration Transport; the number in parentheses .
USAT stands for Army Transportation Service, and indicates the ship was chartered or operated by ATS.
AK, AP and similar designations denote US Navy commissioned ships
Liberty Ships built by the United States Maritime Commission in World War II
Libertys carried a crew of about 44 and 12 to 25 Naval Armed Guard. Some were armed with:
• One 4 inch stern gun
• Two 37 mm bow guns
• Six 20 mm machine guns
About 200 Liberty's were lost to torpedoes, mines, explosions, kamikazes, etc. during WWII.
1945 Pacific Ocean and Hong Kong & Shanghai (14 ships)
Date Ship Type Cause Result Location Deaths
01/11/45 Pontus H. Ross Liberty Kaiten manned Torpedo Damaged Pacific None
03/13/45 Russell H. Chittenden Liberty Split Total loss Pacific None
03/14/45 Esso Washington Tanker Grounded Total loss Pacific None
03/31/45 Matagorda Freighter Collision Unknown Pacific None
04/21/45 Sarenzen Freighter Grounded Unknown Pacific Unknown
05/01/45 Stony Point Tanker Strafed & fire Damaged Pacific None [Crew and AG wounded]
05/12/45 Cuba Victory Victory Collision Damaged Pacific None
05/12/45 Saginaw Victory Victory Collision Damaged Pacific None
07/15/45 Francis Preston Blair Liberty Grounded Total loss Pacific None
