SS Cardinal Gibbons

Summary

SS Cardinal Gibbons was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Cardinal Gibbons, an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Apostolic Vicar of North Carolina from 1868 to 1872, Bishop of Richmond from 1872 to 1877, and as ninth Archbishop of Baltimore from 1877 until his death in 1921. Gibbons was elevated to the rank of cardinal in 1886.

History
United States
NameCardinal Gibbons
NamesakeCardinal Gibbons
OwnerWar Shipping Administration (WSA)
Operator
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MCE hull 920
Awarded1 January 1942
BuilderBethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland[2]
Cost$1,057,253[1]
Yard number2070
Way number15
Laid down8 September 1942
Launched10 October 1942
Sponsored byMrs. N.J. Nelligan
Completed23 October 1942
Identification
Fate
General characteristics [3]
Class and type
Tonnage
Displacement
Length
  • 441 feet 6 inches (135 m) oa
  • 416 feet (127 m) pp
  • 427 feet (130 m) lwl
Beam57 feet (17 m)
Draft27 ft 9.25 in (8.4646 m)
Installed power
  • 2 × Oil fired 450 °F (232 °C) boilers, operating at 220 psi (1,500 kPa)
  • 2,500 hp (1,900 kW)
Propulsion
Speed11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Capacity
  • 562,608 cubic feet (15,931 m3) (grain)
  • 499,573 cubic feet (14,146 m3) (bale)
Complement
Armament

Construction edit

Cardinal Gibbons was laid down on 8 September 1942, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCE hull 920, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland; she was sponsored by Mrs. N.J. Nelligan, the sister-in-law of Monsignor Nelligan of the Baltimore Cathedral, and was launched on 10 October 1942.[2][1]

History edit

She was allocated to Sword Line Inc. on 23 October 1942 and then Marine Transport Lines on June 28, 1943. On 29 October 1948, she was laid up in the James River Reserve Fleet, Jones Point, New York. On 13 October 1949, she was laid up in National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, Texas. On 14 October 1957, she was laid up in National Defense Reserve Fleet, Mobile, Alabama. On 2 November 1970, she was sold for scrapping to Union Minerals & Alloys Corp., for $41,137. She was removed from the fleet on 23 November 1970.[4]

References edit

Bibliography edit

  • "Bethlehem-Fairfield, Baltimore MD". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  • Maritime Administration. "Cardinal Gibbons". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  • Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  • "SS Cardinal Gibbons". Retrieved 18 March 2020.