SS Chief Osceola

Summary

SS Chief Osceola was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Chief Osceola, resistance leader of the "Seminole", during the Second Seminole War.

History
United States
NameChief Osceola
NamesakeChief Osceola
OwnerWar Shipping Administration (WSA)
OperatorUnited States Navigation Company
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MC hull 2322
BuilderJ.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida
Cost$950,246[1]
Yard number63
Way number2
Laid down28 August 1944
Launched4 October 1944
Sponsored byMrs. W. T. Flythe
Completed19 October 1944
Identification
FateSold for commercial use, 30 January 1947
Greece
NameGeorge D. Gratsos
Owner
  • George D. Gratsos Ltd (1947–1949)
  • Gratsos Bros (1949–1967)
FateGrounded, 26 July 1965, scrapped, 1967
General characteristics [2]
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

Chief Osceola was laid down on 28 August 1944, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2322, by J.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida; sponsored by Mrs. W. T. Flythe , wife of director of public relation JAJCC, and launched on 4 October 1944.[3][1]

History edit

She was allocated to United States Navigation Company, 19 October 1944.[4]

She was sold, on 30 January 1947, to George D. Gratsos Ltd, for $563,292.75 and commercial use. She was flagged in Greece and renamed George D. Gratos. On 26 July 1965, she was severely damaged when she was grounded in the Chacao Channel, Chile. She was scrapped in Valencia, in 1967.[4]

References edit

Bibliography edit

  • "Jones Construction, Panama City FL". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  • Maritime Administration. "Chief Osceola". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 9 December 2019.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  • "SS Chief Osceola". Retrieved 9 December 2019.