SS Carter Braxton

Summary

SS Carter Braxton was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Carter Braxton, a Founding Father and signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, as well as a merchant, planter, and Virginia politician. A grandson of Robert "King" Carter, one of the wealthiest and most powerful landowners and slaveholders in the Old Dominion, Carter Braxton was active in Virginia's legislature for more than 25 years.

History
United States
NameCarter Braxton
NamesakeCarter Braxton
OwnerWar Shipping Administration (WSA)
OperatorUnion Sulphur & Oil Co., Inc.
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MCE hull 22
Awarded14 March 1941
BuilderBethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland[2]
Cost$1,151,856[1]
Yard number2009
Way number9
Laid down3 September 1941
Launched24 January 1942
Completed18 March 1942
Identification
FateSold for commercial use, 19 June 1947
United States
NameHerman Frasch
NamesakeHerman Frasch
OwnerUnion Sulphur Co.
FateSold, April 1955
United States
NameCilco Ranger
OwnerTerminal Steamship Co.
OperatorA.L. Burbank & Co.
FateSold, August 1956
United States
NameMurray Hill
OwnerFairfield Steamship Corp.
FateSold, March 1957
Liberia
NameSea Spray
OwnerUniversal Tramp Shipping Co.
OperatorSeatraders, Inc.
FateSold, March 1960
Greece
NameMeltemi
OperatorSeatraders, Inc.
FateScrapped, 1968
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

Carter Braxton was laid down on 3 September 1941, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCE hull 22, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland; and was launched on 24 January 1942.[2][1]

History edit

She was allocated to the Union Sulphur & Oil Co., Inc., on 18 March 1942. She was sold for commercial use on 19 June 1947, to the Union Sulphur & Oil Co., Inc., and renamed Herman Frasch, after Herman Frasch.[4]

References edit

Bibliography edit

  • "Bethlehem-Fairfield, Baltimore MD". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  • Maritime Administration. "Carter Braxton". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  • Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  • "SS Carter Braxton". Retrieved 17 February 2020.